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Towns EN D-TowNSH END 

1066-1909 



The History, Genealogy and Alliances 

of 
The English and American House of Townsend 



COMPILED BY 

James C. Townsend, 1865; Hon. Martin I. Townsend, 
1871; Charles Hervey Townshend, 1875; a Pam- 
phlet by Hon. Isaac Townsend Smith, 1904, now 



NEWLY COMPILED 

REVISED AND ILLUSTRATED 

By 

Margaret Townsend 

(Mdme. Giovanni Tagliapietra) 



NEW YORK 

1909 







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CONTENTS 

PACE 

3 



PrSTT-Th; T;;n;h;ndFam;iy of'l^nn.n oid";nd "nVw" E„gi;;d;" 'by Charles Hervey 



5 



Townshend 7 

Introduction j i 

The Townshend Family • " • • 22 

The Marriage of Lady Audrey Townshend at Raynham Hall ^^ 

Descendants of Jeremiah Townsend ^^ 

Descendants of Ebenezer Townsend •••■ •• 

Extracts from "The Descendants of Martin Townsend, of Watertown, Mass. •••:•••_ , « 

Smpid from Material Furn.shed by Hon. Henry C. Townsend. of Phdadelph.a, Pa., and 

Richard Hallet Townsend, of Baltimore, Md 

The Testimony of Richard Townsend... ^g _ 

Richard Townshend, Councilor of Virginia , 

Compiled from Early Colonial Records of Massachusetts • • • ■^■■■- ^ 

Compiled from Material Furnished by Hon. Martin I. Townsend, Troy, N. Y 4^ 

Addenda ■ -o 

Preface to "Memorial of the Townsend Brothers 

A Memorial V^'-'," ' ■,'^' '.' 68 

Townsend Genealogy, Chapter I, John, Henry and Richard Townsend ■ • • • ^ 



Lnapter 11, jumi luwii^c.iu , ., . , ^ j 71 

Chapter HI, John Sen., Son of John ist. Ancestor of Jericho T°wnsends. . . . ... 7 

Chapter V, Thomas, Son of John ist. Ancestor of the Jones and Floyd-Jones Families . . .... 78 

Chap r V Elizabeth, Daughter of John ist. Ancestress of the Mill River Hollow Wrights. . . 81 
Chapter VI, James, Son of John ist. Ancestor of the Westchester Townsends, the Wilhs Fam- 

ily of Cedar Swamp, and the Hewletts of East Woods. •• ••••■••••• •p;-.' 

Chapter VII, George, Son of John ist, Ancestor of the Cocks of Matmecock, the Duck Pond, ^ 

Norwich, and Yellow Coat Townsends 

Chapter VIII, Daniel, Son of John ist ^^ 

cl7Z fnZ' sin of Henry ;;t: Xn;e;;or 'of 0;;nge Comity aiid Albany' To-"--;- • ;■ ^ 

Chapter XI, John, Son of Henry ist. Ancestor of the Mill Townsends and one Branch of ^^ 

ChaSr Xn:i;:ry'^::;::e;of H;n;; .;,' An;est;ess- of' the Du^k Pond" To^n^end.' Co^ks ^^^ 

cha:i^xSt:;:SnSt :; S::::y .;: An^st;.;- of -the mh. Rivern;..;; wHghis: : : : lo. 

Chapter XIV, Robert. Son of Henry ist ^^^ 

Chapter XV, Richard Townsend • ■ • ■ ••■■••••„• ■, ' ,„, 

Chapter XVI, John, Son of Richard ist. Ancestor of Cape May Townsends. . . '^^ ■■■;■■■ ^ 

Chapter XVII, Richard, Son of Richard ist. Ancestor of the North Side and one Branch of ^^ 

Cedar Swamp Townsends • 

A Short History of the English Townsends, by Martin I. Townsend. J 

The Underbill and Townsend Families, by Hon. Isaac Townsend Smith i '5 

Broken and Untraced Branches ^^^ 

Addenda 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

I'AGE 

"Kaynham Hall," the Seat of the Marquis Townbheiid Frontispiece 

Captain Charles Hervey Townshend 5 

The King and His Ministers '5 

John, 4th Marquis Townshend of Raynham; Elizabeth Jane Stuart, 4th Marchioness Towns- 
hend of Raynham ; Lady Audrey Jane Charlotte Buller; General Sir Redvers Buller 20 

John Villiers Stuart, 5th Marquis Townshend of Raynham; Lady Anne Elizabeth Clementine 
Duff, 5th Marchioness Townsend of Raynhahani; Lord James John Dudley Stuart, 6th 

Marquis Townshend 22 

Edward Sands Townsend ; Frank G. Curtis ; Benjamin Townsend 28 

"Raynham," Overbrook Penn., Seat of Joseph Brevitt Townsend, Jr 44 

Margaret Townsend (Madame Giovanni Tagliapietra) 49 

"Little Raynham," the Old Seat of Soloman Townsend, Oyster Bay, L. 1 68 

Adolph Herrman Lothair Gosling; Mrs. Adolph Herrman Lothair Gosling; Eleanor Frances 

Charlotte Gosling 89 

Mrs. Foxhall P. Keene; Mrs. Frank Thomas Woodbury; Bradley Martin; Frederick Towns- 
end Martin 9^ 

Isaac Townsend ; Audrey Townsend Sackett ; James Bliss Townsend 98 

Jacob Townsend ; Rev. Israel Leander Townsend ; George W. Townsend 102 

John Richard Townsend; Mrs. John Richard Townsend; Hon. John Drake Townsend 107 

John Richard Townsend 108 

Isaac Townsend Smith "6 



A FOREWORD 



The present compiler desiring to preserve under 
one cover the valuable matter that has been 
previously written on the Townsend-Townshend 
family of England and America, and to bring 
their history up to the present date, embodied 
this statement in the circular letter sent out in 
April, 1908, under impression that the re- 
sponses hoped for from individual members would 
enable her to accomplish this task within a given 
space of four months. 

Locating the Townsends, however, throughout 
the length and breadth of the land proved a dif- 
ficult task, in which presumably many have not 
been reached, but, when located, the apathy ex- 
hibited in general, was a painful disappointment. 

The number of letters written by the compiler 
in an effort to secure data, and which were large- 
ly without return, would scarce be credited, and 
she feels that one year of continued and arduous 
labor in this field has not yielded an adequate 
result in these pages ; so it is that history is re- 
peating itself, and in same case with the compiler 
of "Memorial of The Townsend Brothers" and 
of "The Townshend Family of Lynn in Old and 
New England," consideration has to be asked for 
incomplete records, as no instigation or persuasion 
has proved adequate to acquire the desired data: 
therefore, with the feeling of having overstepped 
the time limit, the book must regretfully be pub- 
lished without it. 

As it frequently happens that a public does 
not take interest in a subject until a finished 
product lies before them, the compiler thinks it 
well to state, should this volume meet with the 
approval of a sufficient number of members of the 
family who have not previously subscribed, and are 
desirous of having the records of their particular 
branch included, if they will so communicate with 
her, she will issue a second edition of this volume 
within the year, together with any additions or 
revisions suggested by present subscribers. This 
volutrie can only be obtained from the compiler. 

The data of the comparatively small number 
who have enrolled themselves, has already reached 
the dimensions of a moderate sized volume. 



As the previous matter has not been illustrated, 
the compiler feels it will be of interest to intro- 
duce some types of Townsends, and has placed 
as many of these as can be conveniently inserted, 
the English Townshends being of especial interest 
historically, together with letters and notes that 
may be of interest. 

Some matter not directly connected with the 
genealogy, has been most reluctantly cut from 
Mr. Charles Hervey Townshend's compilation, 
and original deeds in possession of the writer, 
of historical interest to descendants of "The 
Three Brothers," have had to be omitted, as they 
enlarged the manuscript to considerably over the 
limit allowed by the publisher in his estimate, 
and there are no further funds at hand with 
which to controvert the argument. 

The present compiler has not attempted to alter 
or bring to one formal genealogical style, the 
original work herein contained. She desires to 
direct special attention to the two letters — one 
from Mrs. Dorinda E. Hyatt, to Mrs. Andrew J. 
Kinch, dated Sept., 1876, and the second from 
Andrew E. Townsend to Rev. Israel Leander 
Townsend, which were brought to her notice by 
the daughter of Rev. Dr. Townsend, Mrs. 
Walter Montague Wilson of Brooklyn, N. Y,, 
through which she had hoped to establish that 
elusive missing link between the English and 
American Townsends, but after an exhaustive and 
profitless search on both sides the Atlantic for 
the book referred to, she can only publish the 
letters as they have come to her, resigning the 
clue therein contained to a future search. Before 
closing, she desires to recognize the kind interest 
taken in her efforts by Mrs. Charles Hervey 
Townshend of New Haven, Mrs. Walter Mon- 
tague Wilson, Hon. Robert Townsend of Oyster 
Bay, Mr. Malcolm Townsend of N. Y. C, and 
Hon. Townsend D. Cock of Oyster Bay, L. L 

Margaret Townsend, 
(Mdme. Giovanni Tagtiapietra.) 
343 West 34th Street, 
New York City. 



'wvt^ IP^ffPk|^J 






CAPTAIN CIIARLKS IIKKX'KY TOVVNSIIKND. 
New Haven, Conn. 



PREFACE 



Through the kindness of John Ward Deane, 
A.M., the able editor of the New England His- 
torical and Genealogical Register, a genealogy of 
the Townshend family, compiled by the writer, 
was published in Vol. XXIX (January, 1873) and 
before the type was taken down a few pamphlets 
were struck off for distribution, with a most 
gratifying result, they having opened a wide field 
of search and investigation. 

As frequent inquiries have been made for this 
"reprint" (now e.xhausted), a revised and con- 
siderably augmented second edition was printed 
by request, and this, the third edition, prepared 
for the press with a double motive ; to preserve 
material collected ; and to support evidence from 
papers still extant, which agree with data taken 
from original wills, letters and recorded docu- 
ments, deposited in the British and American 
Archives. These materials, with the fragmentary 
evidence collected by others and put together here, 
have thrown much light on some of the early 
settlers of this country by the name of Townsend, 
and support a well-founded tradition which was 
handed down to the present generation by a great 
grand-son of Thomas Townsend or Townshend, 
who settled at Lynn, Colony of Massachusetts 
Bay, in 1637-8, and who knew many that had 
lived contemporaneously with him, as could now 
be proved, had not the early records of Lynn 
been destroyed or lost. 

The object, therefore, of this compilation is to 
save in abridged form the materials for future 
use and reference in preparing a more complete 
volume; and as several persons who are inter- 
ested in this work have asked for extra copies, 
and that notification be sent to others, the author 
has given those who he thought might be inter- 
ested an opportunity to subscribe. 

The writer takes this opportunity to thank for 
valuable assistance, his kinsman, the chief repre- 
sentative of the family. The Most Honorable Sir 
John Villiers Stuart Townshend, Bart, and 5th 
Marquis Townshend, of Raynham, Norfolk, and 
of Tamworth Castle, Warwickshire, England. He 
would also feel that he had been very remiss did 
he not mention the kind encouragement rendered 
by his Lordship's deceased mother, the late 
Dowager Marchioness Townshend, whose untir- 
ing efforts to assist his investigation among the 
British records prepared, and made easier for 
him, his path of research. 

To T. C. C. Smith, Esq., of the Literary De- 
partment, Somerset House, London, for his very 
courteous attention, and to Charles Woodhouse, 
Esq., Registrar of Her Majesty's Court of Pro- 
bate, Bury St. Edmunds, County Suffolk, also to 
G. R, Harman, Esq., Registrar of Her Majesty's 
Court of Probate. Norwich, Norfolk, England, 
the writer is indebted for similar favors ; to my 
old friend, the Hon. Alex. Hamilton, Jr., Presi- 
dent of the Astor Library, N. Y. ; and to J. Ham- 
mond Trumbull, LL.D., of Hartford, Conn.; and 
last but not least, Professors VanName and Dex- 



ter of Yale College, and Horace Day, Esq., Sec- 
retary of the Board of Education, of New Haven, 
Conn. 

Desiring to make a thorough investigation, the 
writer availed himself of the services of the late 
Col. Chester, D.C.L., etc., etc., who commenced 
to make an exhaustive research in the British 
Archives with a view to substantiate with posi- 
tive evidence a tradition which has been so satis- 
factorily proved by numerous facts and circum- 
stances. But just as he had reached a point that 
justified his giving a written opinion (as his 
letter shows), he was taken ill and died sud- 
denly. May 26, 1882. In connection with this let- 
ter it seems proper to mention that in his last 
conversation with me while lying on his death 
bed, he said: "I am satified your traditional ac- 
count is correct because I find it supported by 
many facts and circumstances — everything seems 
to point in the same direction, and if spared I still 
hope to find more to substantiate it." At another 
conversation he said, "if Thomas, the son of Henry 
Townsend of Geddings, had remained in Eng- 
land, I ought to have found some trace of him. 
I have no doubt, as your tradition states, he went 
to New England." If he did not, what became of 
this Thomas Townsend? 



124 SouTHWARK Park Road, London, 

S. E. England, March 10, 1882. 

My dear Capt. Tozcnshend: 

I duly received your letters and the Genealogi- 
cal Chart sent in your last of the 23d Feb. This 
I am especially glad to have, and I should have 
been spared a good deal of labour if you could 
have sent it before. 

I have been giving all the time I possibly could 
to your case, but have been much interrupted, 
and am not certain that I shall have done all I 
wish to by the time you reach here, but will en- 
deavor to do so. 

Of course the main point is the direct affiliation 
of your emigrant ancestor, and so far my im- 
pression is that it will have to be accepted on 
the strength of circumstantial rather than positive 
evidence. I am afraid that no record exists that 
will positively prove it. I cannot, of course, say 
what may yet be the results of my exhaustive 
researches, but, even if not decisive, I am sure 
that you will regard with some value the expres- 
sion of my opinion concerning your own theory. 
I have no objection now to say that, so far as my 
investigations have gone, / see no reason to doubt 
its reasonableness and probable accuracy. I want 
to substantiate it if I can, and do not yet despair 
of doing so. 

I am not certain that this letter will reach Nevir 
Haven before you sail for Europe, and therefore 
reserve all details until I see you. 

Believe me, sincerely yours, 

Jos, L. Chester. 



INTRODUCTION 



The Massachusetts Probate and other Records 
at Boston, Salem and Lynn, give evidence of re- 
lationship between the families of i homas 
Townsin, Townesende, Towenshend, or 1 owns- 
hend, of Lynn (for in each way was this name 
spelled), and the families o John Newgate o 
Boston, and Robert Mansell, or Mansfield, of 
Lvnn This Mr. Newgate, an important citizen 
of Boston, representative and often selectman, 
was descended from the families of that name 
who in early times held estates at Holkham and 
neighboring parishes in the County Norfolk Eng- 
land a branch of which we find later residing at 
■Homingsheath, near Bury St. Edmunds, in Suf- 
folk He seems to have followed the occupation 
of a feltmaker, and had lived for many years 
previous to his emigration to New England in 
the parish of St. Olives in Southwalk, London 
Bridge, but after 1627, his name and family disap- 
pear from the parish register, and about 1630 we 
find among the Suffolk Fines, London that a 
certain John Newgate buys and records Oct. 6th, 
1631 of Peter Beck and Anne his wife, an estate 
in the parish of Tymworth, which estate is re- 
corded sold Feb. 3d, 1639, to Jane Bacon vvidow 
by a John Newgate alias Newdigate, and Anne 
his wife, whom we have no doubt are the same 
as the New England settlers whose children and 
relations often spelt their name Newdigate, as 
will be hereafter shown. , . , . -d 

This John Newgate, in his last will, dated Bos- 
ton May 8th, 1665, and proved Oct. 26th, follow- 
ing gives a legacy of "£io to my brother-in-law, 
Thomas Townsin, of Lyn, to be paid him within 
three years after my decease," and in codicil of 
same will, dated Sept. nth, 1665, he shows more 
than ordinary interest in his brother-in-law, as 
follows: "Further, my will is that Thomas 
Townsin, of Lyn, have his legacy above men- 
tioned, within one year after my decease, and a 
bequest to the free schools of Boston, for the 
same amount, he makes void." 

This Thomas Townesend had sons, lhomas,i 
Samuel,2 John.S and Andrew.^ He also may 
have had (by a first wife), 5 Robert of Ports- 



mouth, 1665, when he signed as one of the sup- 
porters of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts; and 
daughter Liddia who married Lawrence Cope- 
land, of Lynn, "Ye 12 10 mo. 1651," also, Eliz^a- 
beth, married to Samuel Mariam, Dec. 22d, 1669, 
and also (perhaps) Mary, a member of Samuel 
Gardner's family, 1661. The records prove that 
he gave his property to his children when they 
became of marriage estate, and by deed, dated 
Jan. 1st, 1674, he gave to "youngest son Andrew, 
two acres of his town lot of eight acres in Lynn, 
situated on the south side the Mill street, lying 
westerly of the town highway that leadeth 
through the said field; the said highway being 
the easterly bounds, and the remainder of the 
homestead after the death of the said Thomas 
Townesend, and Mary his now wife; provided, 
the said Andrew, then unmarried, would con- 
tinue to live with them and manager their prop- 
erty, they being disabled in a measure, through 
age ' to carry on their affairs." This Andrew 
Townesend died of camp fever, Dec. loth, 1692; 
his mother, his wife, and two of their children 
all dying of the same sickness, within a few days 
of each other, and the court appointed for ad- 
ministrators on his estate, their loving Uncte 
Samuel Townesend, of Winnesemet, and Samuel 
Johnson of Lynn; and for guardians of his chil- 
dren, their uncle Samuel, aforesaid, for Abigail 
and David the eldest and youngest, and for the 
others, viz: Thomas, Elizabeth, Andrew and 
Daniel, "their loving kinsman," Deacon Daniel 
Mansfield, who was son of Andrew (the town 
recorder), and grandson of Robert Mansfield, 
aforesaid. As we find frequently and for many 
generations since the settlement of Lynn, the 
christian name Andrew in the Townsend and 
Mansfield families, it is quite probable that the 
name came from the latter to the Townseuds. 
Blomfield, Norfolk, Vol. X, p. 423-4, mentions 
the Manor of Hayneford, near Norwich, with 
advowson of the church and other church lands 
and property in the same county, granted Oct. 
2ist, 154s, to Andrew Mansfield, Esq., of the 
city of Norwich; also, same date, p. 438, lands in 



1 The supposed eldest son married Mary, daughter 
ot Samuel Davis. 

2 His son Samuel married Abigail, another daughter 
of Samuel Davis, and he leased one of Gov. Belllng- 
ham's farms at Winesemet or Chelsea, which continued 
In his family for more than 50 years. He also owned 
property in Boston (North end), and Charlestown and 
Rumney Marsh. 

3 His son John, by Mary, his now (1669) wife. mar- 
Tied Sarah, daughter ot John Pearson, of Lynn, his 
Bear neighbor, who was formerly of Norwich, Norfolk. 
Eng. This John Townsend married secondly. Meheta- 
ble. daughter of Nicholas Brown, and sister of Eliza- 
beth, wife ot Hannaniah Parker, of Redding, who 
had for second wife Mary Barsham. and .she married 
2d. Deacon John Bright, of Watertown, son of Henry 
Bright, Jr.. whose family lived on the now (1882) 
site of the Angle Inn at Bury St. Edmunds. County 
Suffolk, and where he was born and baptized, as per 



St. James' Parish Register. Dec. 29th, 1602, and emi- 
grated to New England in 1630. 

4 The youngest son, Andrew, by Mary ("my now 
wife, 1674"). married Abigail, daughter ot John Col- 
lins, ot Linn. 

5 Thomas Townsend. Sr.. in deeds of gift to sons 
John and Andrew, mentions Mary, his now wife, they 
the father and mother of aforesaid, and as Thomas 
and Samuel are not mentioned as sons by wife Mary. 
It i.s supposed that he had a first wife by whom he had 
children born in England, and perhaps in New Eng- 
land, where she may have died, and the above Robert, 
Liddia, Mary and Elizabeth, perhaps her children. 
Tradition says, money was left this family, also 
Thomas Townsend was a relation of the 1st Lord 
Townsend. Now, we find by will of Sir Roger Town- 
shend the Puritan Baronet, of Raynham. dated Jan. 
1st 1637. a mention of £400 to children ot a Thomas 
Townsend. His 2d son, Horatio, In 1661, was created 
Baron Linn. 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



Newtown ; also, same date, p. 383-4, in Stanhowe 
(Calthorpe Manor), lands belonging to Thetford 
Priory, and in Vol. VII, p. 380, same date, this 
Andrew Mansfield had a grant of the Canons, 
Marshes, &c., in Marsham, and the same year, 
154s. had license to alien it to Elizabeth Spelman, 
and her heirs. This Elizabeth Spelman was 
probably a sister of the famous Antiquary Sir 
Henry Spelman, who was the first Treasurer of 
the "Council of the New England Company," and 
by marriage, connected to the Townsend and 
Mansfield families. Andrew Mansfield, Esq., 
aforesaid, by will, dated at Norwich, Norfolk, 
Feb. 20th, IS53, leaves legacies to the church of 
St. Mary's Coslany within the city of Norwich, 
appoints wife Jane (a sister of John Eyre, Esq.,) 
E.xecutrix, and she in her will, dated April 24th, 
1587, gave bequest to Thomas Hayes, of silver 
spoons; orders her body to be buried in the 
church of Haynesford, Norfolk, in "the North 
Chansel ne.xt the place my husband Andrew 
Mansfield hath burial," mentions the house she 
now dwells in at Haynesford, gives money to the 
poor of Haynesford, and 20.S. to the Parish of 
St. Mary's Coslany, aforesaid, makes numerous 
bequests, gives her property to grand-child, Will- 
iam LeGryce, and her niece, Alice LeGryce, the 
wife of said William LeGryce; mentions niece 
Spelman, nephew George Everton, Elizabeth Bay- 
pool, wife of John Baypool and especial good 
friend, Sir Thomas Cornwallis, Kt., Supervisor 
of her will, she gives £10. Appoints her grand- 
child, William LeGryce, and nephew, George 
Everton, E.xecutors of her last will and testa- 
ment. This Andrew and Jane (Eyre) Mansfield, 
had an only daughter, Susan, who married 
Charles LeGryce, of Brodish, Norfolk, and they 
were the parents of the aforesaid William Le- 
Gryce, whose mother, Susan (Mansfield) Le- 
Gryce, was buried at Brodish, in 1564, and the 
said Charles, in 1572. The Manor of Aslacton, 
Norfolk. Blomfield tells us, was bought by 
Charles Le Gryce in 1561, and was granted after 
his death to Andrew Mansfield, of Norwich, a 
gentleman who was probably a near relative of 
the first Andrew Mansfield, and may have been 
father, uncle, or brother of the first Lynn settler 
of that name. There was a Charles' Grice, of 
Brantree, Mass., whose will in Boston Probate 
C!ourt, is dated Nov. gth, 1661, in which he men- 
tions son David and children of his brother John 
and William Grice, son-in-law William Owen, of 
New England, the others all living in Old Eng- 
land, and he may have been of this family. 

The first Andrew Mansfield, probably had other 
church lands granted him through his brother- 
in-law's (John Eyre) interest, and may have 
descended from Andrew, one of the sons of Sir 
Philip lilansell, or Mansfield, who came into 
England with William the Conqueror, and re- 
ceived the estates of his uncle. Sir Henry Harley, 
and the Manor of Oxmeath, in County Glamor- 
gan, in South Wales. 

Besides this Andrew Mansfield, of Hayneford 
and Norwich, we find in the will of Sir Nathaniel 
Bacon, of Stifkey, County Norfolk, in the State 



Papers, Domestic— Addenda— pp. 541-4 No 61 
dated June 4th, 1614, frequent mention of Sir 
Robert Mansell (or, as he signs his name, Mans- 
held), Kt., Vice Admiral, etc., who was married 
to Jane, sister to Sir Nathaniel, whose daughter 
Anne married Sir John Townsend, of Raynham, 
Kt., killed m a duel, and father of Sir Roger 
Townsend, ist Bart. He (Sir Robert Mansfield) 
was noted for his great skill and bravery and 
knowledge of marine affairs. He had a grant to 
make saltpetre and glass; was knighted at the 
taking of Cadiz, Spain, in 1598, and died without 
issue, probably at his house in Greenwich, soon 
after 1640. He was living, however, as a paper 
on file in the State Paper Office, London, proves, 
bearing his seal and arms, and dated April 30th, 
1639. This Sir Robert was largely interested in 
the North and South Virginia Company, and was 
one of the council of the New England Company, 
and at their meeting at the Earl of Carlisle's 
Chambers in White Hall, April 2Sth, 1635, when 
they resigned the charter of New England (the 
Gorges Patent), saying that they have found by 
long experience that their endeavors to advance 
the Plantation of New England has been at- 
tended with great trouble and charge; have had 
trouble with the Virginia Company and parties 
who had lands granted them in Massachusetts 
Bay, and they have thought fit to publish their 
reasons to posterity for resigning the patent, etc. 
At this meeting was the President, the Lord 
Gorges, the Vice-President, Capt. Mason, the 
Marquis of Hamilton, the Earls of Arundell, 
Surry, Southampton, Lindsey. Carlisle, Sterling, 
Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Sir Kenelem Digby and 
others; also. Sir Henry Spelman, the Secretary 
of the Company. At the time Mount Desert 
Island was captured from the French by Capt. 
Samuel Argall, in 1634, it was granted to Sir 
Robert Mansfield, and called Mount Mansfield. 
He also was allotted a part of New England or 
North Virginia, as an old map now extant shows. 
Sir Robert's brother-in-law. Sir Nathaniel Bacon, 
married 2d wife, Dorothy, widow of Wm. Smith, 
of Winston, Norfolk, whose son, Sir Owen Smith, 
had Thomas, also of Winston, who died Jan. 6th, 
1639, and his sister Mary, aunt of said Thomas, 
married Anthony Drury, of Besthorpe and Int- 
wood, Norfolk, son of Anthony and Bridget 
(Spelman) Drury, and the father of Elizabeth 
Drury, wife of Wm. Newgate, who resided at 
Intwood, where died Anne (Calthorpe) Towns- 
hend, "late ye wife of Henry Townshend, Es- 
quire, of Bracon Ash," and she was buried, ac- 
cording to the Intwood Register, Oct. 4th, 1629. 
She was eldest daughter of Bartram Calthorpe, 
Councillor of the Middle Temple, London, who 
was buried in Autringham Church, Norfolk. This 
Anne was co-heir to her sister Mary, wife of 
Edward D'Oyley, of Newton Trowse, Norfolk 
(2d brother of Edmund D'Oyley, of Shottesham), 
Dorothy, wife of Thomas Goodwyn, of Stone- 
ham, Suffolk, whose daughter Dorothy married 
Edward Rockwood, son of Nicholas, of Euston, 
Suffolk. Margeret married Richard and Audrey 
married Lyonell, Goodrick (cousifis), of Cour.ty 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Lincoln. Sir Thomas Gresham owned Intwood, 
and his daughter Anne was wife of aforesaid 
Sir Nathaniel Bacon, and as before mentioned, 
grandfather of Sir Roger Townsend, Bart., of 
Raynham, Norfolk, a noted Puritan, who with 
his mother-in-law, the Lady Vera, were firm 
friends of the Rev. John Davenport, of the New 
Haven Colony, as his letters abundantly prove, 
and of the Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Lynn in the 
Massachusetts Colony; the latter having served 
as domestic Chaplain to the Bacon and Townsend 
families, and in compliment to these families and 
other settlers who were from the County Nor- 
folk, England, who had chosen for their pastor 
the Rev. Samuel Whiting, this town's name was 
changed from the Indian one, Saugus, to Lynn, 
Nov. 25th, 1637, O. S. , • , -ru 

Having shown on the paternal side Ihomas 
Townsend's connection with several parties in- 
terested in the early settlement of New England, 
a brief notice of the maternal side may interest. 
His mother was Margeret Forthe, the first wife 
of Henry Townsend, and a daughter of Robert 
Forthe, LL.D.. "Deane of the Arches," and a 
near cousin of Gov. Winthrop's first wife, Mary 
Forthe. This Margeret had an only brother, 
Thomas Forthe, Esq., of the Middle Temple, 
London, who after his father's death in 1596 com- 
menced to sell his estates at Lambeth, Streatham 
and Croydon, County Surrey ; and about the same 
time we find a Thomas Forthe (who may have 
been the same) buying estates at Southberg and 
Hingham, Norfolk, next estates occupied by 
Thomas Southwell, a brother-in-law to aforesaid 
Robert Forthe, and supervisor of his will, he 
having married for his third wife Mary, a sister 
of the said Thomas Southwell, the then widow 
of William Drury, LL.D., a cousin of Anthony 
Drury, of Intwood, Norfolk. This Thomas 
Forthe is called by Blomficld, yeoman, and may 
not be the same as called of the Middle Temple, 
Esquire, and in 1603, Edward Brown, Rector of 
Southberg, return 96 communicants, and that 
Thomas Forthe is patron. This Thomas Forthe 
died at Southberg, Aug. 22d, 1630. and his son 
Thomas is called by an inquisition, taken at Nor- 
wich, Oct. 22d, 1630. and a second, taken April 
22d, 1634, next heir. We find by Robert Forthe's, 
LL.D., will and inquisition that he held lands 
and tenements in Surrey, Kent. London, Essex and 
Layham, County Suffolk, "where his grandfather 
once did dwell," that he mentions six acres of 
land in East Ham and other property held of the 
Arch Bishop, of Canterbury. The last mentioned 
Thomas Forthe was buried at Southberg, June 
7th, 165s; appoints his wife Elizabeth, executrix, 
and Robert Long, of Remystone, County Norfolk, 
Esq., supervisor, of his will. In his father's will, 
John Sutton (probably clerk of Woodrising), his 
brother-in-law, is made supervisor, and the wit- 
nesses are Anthony Cooper and John Barrett._ 

These last three names appear afterwards in a 
list of settlers to New England, who came ovei 
in 1638 with the Rev. Robert Peck from Old 
Hingham, next parish to Southberg. Norfolk, 
and settled at New Hingham, on the south shore 



of Boston Bay. Another interesting fact in con- 
nection with Thomas Townsend, is the petition 
of Jane, wife of Joseph Armitage, of Lynn, ask- 
ing to keep an ordinary or Inn (to the General 
Court in session, Oct. 7th, 1O43, and voted granted 
Oct. 26th, following). It is drawn up in the 
hand writing of the Rev. Samuel Whiting, and 
with thirty-four other signatures, bears Ihomas 
Townsend's autograph. It is the Court or Nor- 
man style of the day, and proves that he was 
used to the pen. In this petition he writes his 
surname Townsend; but in a previous one at 
Salem Court, "ye 30th loth mo., 1641," the name 
is spelt Towenshend; and again a Deposition in 
the Essex County Court Files, Vol. XIII, p. 62, 
dated ye 12th loth mo., 1661, Thomas Towne- 
send's age is called about 60. From those and 
his well-drawn deeds of gift to his children it 
would seem that he was a man of good education 
for the times, and libera! in his views, and being 
a younger son he might have been educated for 
the church, and the quiet life he led after com- 
ing to New England would seem to make him a 
fit person to accept the position of Rector of a 
parish. These facts and his deposition wherein 
his name is mentioned, which nearly agree with 
the Bracon Ash register, gives great strength to 
the traditional account. Another strong link in 
the chain of evidence is the will of John New- 
gate of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, "Maultster, 
whose family were from Horningsheath and Ick- 
worth, next parishes to Nowton, where lived 
William Payne, Gentleman, sometimes Lord of 
this Manor, who was Executor of Henry Townes- 
hend's, of Gedding, will. This John Newgate in 
his will, dated at Bury St. Edmunds, Oct. 12th, 
1642, and proved in the Archdeaconal Court of 
Sudbury, Oct. 5th, 1649. by his wife Sarah, his 
Executrix, then the wife of Thomas Frost, gives 
the use of his property in the Long Bracklands, 
in the parish of St. James, to Sarah his wife, for 
life; then to brother Joseph Newgate, and then 
to his "brother John Newgate, now resident in 
the parts beyond the seas called New England, 
and his heirs forever." This John Newgate of 
New England, as has been shown, was brother- 
in-law to Thomas Townesend of Lynn, and uncle 
to Thomas and Samuel Townsend of Rumny 
Marsh, where Newgate was granted 150 acres, 
and subsequently bought Governor Winthrop s 
grant c: 150 acres, and other lands adjoining, 
increasing his estate here to about 500 acres, 
which his grandson Nathaniel Newdigate, sold 
to Colonel Samuel Shrimpton of Boston, whose 
cousin Epaphrijs Shrimpton of New England, 
married Rebecca (perhaps Forth), mentioned m 
will of Mary (perhaps Forth), widow of Joseph 
Marshall of London. Her will (Fox 121), dated 
15th June, 1716. His will (Fagg 54), proved 17th 
March, 171S, and called cousin, also mentions 
uncles John, Thomas and Dannett Forth. This 
Dannett Forth had a daughter Mary, w'ifc of 
Francis St. John, son of Cromwell, chief justice, 
Sir Oliver St. John, and so connected with the 
Rev. Samuel Whiting's wife Elizabeth (his aunt), 
and the ancestor of the Duke of Manchester. 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



It is interesting to note that it was usual for 
respectable families in England, at this period, to 
use the alias, and such was the case with this 
branch of the Newgate family, for instance: the 
before-mentioned family in Fines, of Suffolk. 
The pedigree of Edmund Newgate alias Newdi- 
gate, of Holkham and Wighton, County Norfolk, 
recorded at College of Arms, London, in visita- 
tion of Norfolk for 1664, containing four genera- 
tions, and signed Edm. Newgate als. Newdigate, 
and certified to, Aug. ist, 1876, by George Harri- 
son, "Windsor Herald," and Edward Bellases, 
"Blue Mantle." The will of Nathaniel Newgate 
alias Newdigate, son of John Newgate, of Boston, 
Mass., who died at Greenwich, near London, and 
was buried, according to-the register of St. Olive's 
Parish, London Bridge. September 14th, 1668, 
and proved by his widow, then the wife of John 
Johnson, November 24th, 1679. The pedigrees of 
Newdigate, of Denton and HoU, Norfolk, drawn 
from original wills by the Rev. William Grigson, 
of Norwich, who ends his valuable report on the 
Newgates, saying: "I have seen it stated that 
this family of Newdigate were at one time called 
Newgate." — W. G. Now after carefully collect- 
ing and examining the evidence collected in Old 
and New England of the Newgates alias Newdi- 
gate, we have good reason to suppose that this 
before-mentioned John Newgate alias Newdigate, 
of Tymworth, was the feltmaker of Southwark, 
and that after years of prosperity he had about 
1630 retired to the neighborhood of his birth, 
where he might enjoy quietly with his family the 
result of his efforts and industry; but his near 
neighbor. Sir Thomas Jermyn, of Rushbrook, 
County Suffolk, Kt., then one of His Majesty's 
Privy Council, and a friend of the Colony of 
Massachusetts Bay, may have persuaded him to 
assist its colonization by removing there with his 
family. 

The Horningsheath and Hessett Parish Regis- 
ters record several generations of the Newgate 
and Hoo families. Philip Newgate, father of 
John of Boston, was married Dec. 13th, 1578, at 
Hessett, the next parish to Rougham and Rush- 
brook, Suffolk to Joan Hoo, a dau. of Gualther 
(Walter) Hoo or Howe of Rougham Hall, of 
which he held the cooy-hold; also Freeholds in 



Hessett, Beighton and adjoining parishes from 
his ancestors, as his will dated July 21st, 1587, 
proves. This Philip Newgate had a brother Rob- 
ert Newgate, who married at Horningsheath, 
Elizabeth Buckenham or Bokenham, Feb. 21, 1581, 
and she was probably of the same family as Ed- 
mund Buckenham, sheriff of Suffolk in 1605, who 
by marriage with Barbara, a daughter of John 
Wiseman, Esq., of Great Thornham, was brother- 
in-law by marriage of her sister Mary, to Philip 
Forth, an uncle of Mary Forth, first wife of Gov- 
ernor Winthrop. Aforesaid Edmund Buckenham 
had son Sir Henry Buckenham, who was by wife 
Dorothy, eldest daughter of Guilford Walsing- 
ham, had a daughter Timothea, who married a 
Mr. Gardner of Essex, and a son John Bucken- 
ham, whose son Wiseman Buckenham, married 
Grace, second sister to Sir Symon D'Ewes, Bart. 
The before-mentioned Robert Newgate had with 
other issue, William Newgate, baptized at Horn- 
ingsheath, April 14th, 1603, and who was prob- 
ably the uncle's son mentioned in will of John 
Newgate of Boston, as married to his wife's 
sister, and then (1665) living in London, and to 
whom he leaves a legacy in amount equal to 
Thomas Townsend, his other brother-in-law of 
Lynn, fio. This William Newgate has been 
sometimes called the same who married Bridget, 
daughter of Anthony Drury of Intwood, Norfolk. 
But the one who married at Intwood was prob- 
ably William, son of Edmund Newgate, alias 
Newdigate, of the family of Wighton and Holk- 
ham. It is however interesting to note that the 
Drury family of Beesthorpe and Intwood were 
near relations of the Drurys of Rougham, Suf- 
folk, and from whom probably Walter Hoo held 
the copyhold of Rougham Hall, and they were 
also related to the Pepys family of Norfolk. 
Jerome (Fermor) Pepyes of South Creek, Nor- 
folk, having by wife Frances, daughter of John 
Drury of Rougham, Suffolk, a son Fermor 
Pepys, who resided at Toftstrees, next Raynham, 
the seat of the Townshend family, and his 
nephew, Edward Pepyes of Broomsthorpe, Nor- 
folk, and Middle Temple, London, married Eliza- 
beth, co-heir of John Walpole, and she in her 
will, proved at Norwich, June 28, 1669. leaves 
with other legacies, a bequest to Cousin Newgate, 
who may have been of the Horningsheath family. 



./» 



10 



THE TOWNSHEND FAMILY 



The Townsend or Townshend families of Eng- 
land and America are of mixed Saxon and Nor- 
man origin and of great antiquity in the County 
Norfolk, England. 

Walter Atte Townshende, son of Sir Lodovic 
de Townshende, a Norman nobleman whom Col- 
lins in his Peerage of England puts at the head 
of this family, flourished soon after the Conquest. 
This Lodovic it seems married Elizabeth de 
Hauteville, sole heiress of the manors of Rayn- 
ham ; daughter of Sir Thomas de Hauteville, of 
the famous family of de Hauteville or Havile, 
which family at this time appears to have been 
a most important one. They were of Norman 
extraction, and settling in the County of Nor- 
folk became possessed of a considerable property 
said to have been granted them by William the 
Conqueror, a portion of which by this marriage 
came to the Townsend family. 

We find the name in ancient deeds written 
thus: Ad-Finem-Ville. Ad-Exitum-Ville, Add- 
Caput-Ville. William Ad-Exitum-Ville. that is 
Townsend or Tunneshende, held considerable 
lands of the prior of Norwiche's lordship in Tav- 
erham, Norfolk, in the reign of King John, A. D. 
1200. In the reign of Henry IH, A. D. 1217-72, 
lived Thomas Atte-Tunneshende, of West Herl- 
ing; and in 1292 lived William Atte-Tune'sende. 
In '304. John, son of Thomas Atte Tunnesende, 
died, leaving Alice his widow and William his 
son, who was married in 1306. This family was 
possessed of valuable estates, and their seal was 
a chevron between three escalop shells, the arms 
of the family to this day. 

There wer2 several of the name living in Nor- 
folk about the beginning of the 14th century, and 
from them no doubt the various families of the 
name sprang. Anno Domini 1319, Richard Atte- 
Towneshende of Fincham, conveyed lands, etc., 
with the services of divers men, to Adam de 
Fincham, and in the church of St. Martyn's, 
Fincham, on the pavement near the lowest south 
window, lies a gravestone, to which was once 
fixed a brass plate with a long Latin inscription 
memorative to Thomas Townsend, a probable 
descendant of this family, and which is now pre- 
served in the church chest, but much broken. 

In 1371, Peter Atte-Townsend was presented 
with the living of Great Winchingham by the 
king and nominated by the bishop. There was a 
William Atte-Tounsend whose son Thomas set- 
tled his estates in Thropland and Barsham in 
Norfolk, on his son John, by deed dated July 11, 
1377. This John was living at Snoring Magna, 
A. D. 1396, and afterwards settled at R.iynham. 

Roger de Townshende, who by wife Cathrine, 
daughter of John Atherton, of the County Sus- 
sex, was father of Sir Thomas de TownsJiend, 
whose wife was Agnes, daughter of William 



Payne, gentleman. This Sir Thomas was buried 
in the choir of White Friars' Church in Fleet 
street, London, April i, 1421, and his son and heir 
Roger was wedded to Eleanor, daughter of Sir 
Thomas Giggs, of Rollesby, in County Norfolk, 
and had issue John Townesend, son and heir, 
who married Joan, daughter and heir of Sir Rob- 
ert Lunsford of Rumford, in County Essex; his 
will is dated February 16, 1466. He orders his 
"body to be hurried in the middle of the church 
of St. Mary's, Raynham, before the image of the 
crucifix of our Lord, and appoints one secular 
priest to celebrate, for his soul and that of his 
wife, for the space of 20 years." By this match 
the Townsend family have right to bear the arms 
of Lunsford, Harrington, Belhouse, Marcy Man- 
derville, Earl of Essex, &c. By the said Joan 
Lunsford, this John Townsend had one son 
Roger, and four daughters. 

Roger Townsend, Esq., son and heir, was en- 
tered a student of Lincoln's Inn, and elected a 
governor and lent reader 1461. In 1468 was 
trustee in purchasing the Lordship at Wiching- 
ham, St. Mary's. In 1472 was member of Parlia- 
ment of Calme, in Wiltshire; and in 1476 he pur- 
chased the remainder of the Lordship of Havile, 
Raynham, so that the whole estate was then in 
the family. In 1477 he was called to the degree 
of sergeant-at-law ; in 1480, summoned to be an 
assistant to the house of Lords in Parliament; 
and in 1485 was made king's sergeant-at-law, and 
the year following was appointed a justice of the 
common pleas. King Henry VII renewed his 
patent, and knighted him in his chamber at Wor- 
cester, on Whitsunday before the coronation. Sir 
Roger dates his will Aug. 14, 1492, and orders 
his body to be buried in the chapel of St. Kath- 
erine's, in the church of St. Mary's, Raynham, if 
he fortunes to decease there; but if in London, 
in the church of White Friars in Fleet street, 
before the crucifix. He leaves legacies to his 
daughters, _ and mentions son Thomas; makes 
Eleanor, his wife, sole executrix and guardian to 
his eldest son Roger, on whom he entails his 
property. His will was proved 1403, and wife 
Eleanor survived him, and in her will dated Nov. 
9, 1499, she orders her body to be buried by the 
high altar in the chancel of the church of St. 
Mary's, Raynham, and a new tomb to be made 
for her husband, and her bones, upon which 
tomb to be graven a sepulchre for Easter-day, if 
a chapel be not made at her decease, and if a 
chapel be made then she would be buried with 
her husband there. She appoints Sir Robert 
Clere, Kt., her executor, and her will was proved 
Oct. 8, 1500. 

Sir Roper had issue by wife Eleanor, viz: 
Roger, eldest son, heir; Thomas; Anne, wife of 
Sir Philip Cressner of Attleborough, Norfolk, 



II 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Esq.; Anne, wife of Humphrey Castell of Reving- 
ham, Norfolk, Esq.; Thomasim, wife of Thomas 
Woodhouse, of Kimberly, Norfolk, Esq. ; . . . . 
wife of Sir William Clopton of Kentwell, Suf- 
folk, Kt. 

Roger Towneshend, eldest son of the Judge, 
was bred to the law, and among other gentlemen 
of worth and dignity of the County Norfolk, was 
appointed a commissioner by act of Parliament 
for raising the sum of £163,000 by a poll-tax in 
1513, for defraying the expense of taking Tero- 
ven and Tournay. In 15 18 he covenanted to 
serve the king with ten men-at-arms ; was sheriff 
of Norfolk and Suffolk 1511, 1518, 1525, and one 
of the masters of the courts of request in 1529, 
serving also the same year as one of the King's 
Council with the Bishop of Lincoln. On Jan. 2, 
1539, he attended the Duke of Norfolk at the 
marriage reception of King Henry VHI, and 
was knighted 1545, on the return of the king 
from Boulogne, and on the death of that mon- 
arch was commissioned to take care of the peace 
of the County Norfolk. He was a gentleman of 
great honor and worth, both at home and at 
court, and was one of the king's privy council. 
His wife was Anne, daughter and co-heir of Sir 
William de Brevvse who was from a very ancient 
family which held by descent a great estate, and 
brought with it high honors, she being connected 
by birth with many of the ancient nobility. In 
his will, which bears date July 31, 1551, he calls 
himself son and heir of Sir Roger Townshend, 
deceased, and orders his body to be buried in the 
church of East Raynham by Amy, his wife, if he 
fortune to depart within the shire of Norfolk; 
leaves bequests to his sons and daughters, and 
makes his great-grandson Roger (then a minor), 
son of Richard, lately deceased, son of his son 
John, also deceased, his heir apparent when he 
attains the age of 27 years. Appoints his sons 
George and Thomas his executors, and his will 
was proven May 10, 1552, and he was buried in 
the church of St. Mary's, Raynham. As both 
these Sir Roger Townshends left wills, in which 
all their children are mentioned, it is evident that 
Collins and Blomfield have made an error in call- 
ing them the same person. 

Sir Roger had issue by wife Anne de Brewse, 
viz : John, eldest son, of Raynham, Norfolk and 
Brampton, Suffolk, Esq. ; Sir Robert, 2d son, of 
Ludlow, Kt., Chief Justice of Chester; George, 
3d son, of Dereham Abbey. Esq., who married a 
daughter of Sir John Thurston, Sheriff of Lon- 
don, 1516; Roger, 4th son. Parson of Creek and 
Snoring, Norfolk, died A. D. 1537-8, will dated 
Oct. 8, 1536; Thomas, 5th son, of Testerton, Nor- 
folk, Esq. ; Giles, 6th son, will dated Nov. 15, 
1552, proved Mar. 4, 1554. Susan married Sir 
Edmund Windham, Kt. ; Kathrine married Sir 
Henry Beddingfield, Kt. 

Which John Townshend, Esq., aforesaid, was 
seated at Brampton, in Com. Norf., and having 
married Eleanor, daughter of Sir John Hayden, 
of Baconsthorp, in the same county. Knight of 
the Bath at the coronation of King Henry VIII, 
had issue two daughters and four sons; Richard, 



eldest son; Henry; John Townshend, of Hel- 

loughton, in Com. Norf., Esq.. who by wife 

Cecilia, daughter of Peirce (who was 

buried at Helloughton, Nov. 9, 1589), left an 
only daughter and heir. Amy ; and (5eorge, fourth 
son. His daughters were, Catharine, married to 
Francis Colvil, of Marshland, in Com. Norf., 
Esq. ; and Anne, the wife of Thomas Crofftes, of 
Felraingham, in the same county, Esq. He was 
succeeded by Richard, his eldest son. 

Which Richard Townshend, E^q., resided also 
at Brampton, and died in the fifth year of King 
Edward VI, 1551, as appears by his will, bearing 
date of the 20th of July the same year, (and the 
probate thereof Feb. 12th, 1544) at which time 
he was dangerously ill, and appoints Thomas 
Townshend, Esq., his uncle, sole executor. He 
married Catharine, third daughter and co-heir of 
Sir Humphrey Brown, of Ridley, in Cheshire, 
one of the justices of the Common Pleas, who 
was afterwards espoused to Sir William Roper, 
Knight, ancestor to the Ropers of Welhall ; but 
by her first husband had issue a son named 
Roger, and a daughter Elizabeth, married to 
Thomas Godsalve, of Buckenham, in Com. Norf., 
Esq., who deceased on August 2d, in 30 Elizabeth, 
leaving by her Roger Godsalve, of Buckenham, 
his son and heir, at that time twenty years of 
age. 

Roger Tounshend, Esq., son and also heir to 
his great-grandfather Sir Roger, aforesaid, and 
ancestor to the present Marquis Townshend. The 
Earl, Sydney, the Viscount Raynham and the late 
Lord Bayning, was afterwards a celebrated com- 
mander, and brought his own ships into the serv- 
ice of his country during the time of the Spanish 
Arrnada, in 1588, and showing such undaunted 
spirit and bravery, was knighted at sea, on board 
the "Ark Royal," the 26th of July of the same 
year, by the Lord High Admiral Charles Howard, 
with the Lord Howard, the Lord Sheffield, John 
Hawkins and Martyn Frobisher ; and as his name 
is mentioned before the two last, his command 
was, no doubt, a most important one. On the 
tapestry hanging on the walls of the House of 
Lords, was embroidered. Lord Howard and his 
captains, one of which, was this Sir Roger. He 
resided at Raynham, and became famed for his 
prudence, valor, and other accomplishments. He 
enlarged his estates by divers purchases of manor- 
lands, etc., in the County Middlesex, Norfolk 
and Essex, as appears by several authorities. He 
lived but two years afterwards, departing this 
life in the flower of his age, at a seat he had 
purchased of Thomas Sutton, Esq., at Newing- 
ton, County Middlesex, June 30, 1590. and was 
buried in the church of St. Giles, Cripple-gate, 
London. His lady was Jane, youngest daughter 
of Sir Michael Stanhope, of Shelford, in County 
Norfolk, ancester to the present Earl of Chester- 
field and Stanhope, by whom he had two sons, 
John and Robert Townshend, who lived a widow 
till about seven years after his decease, when 
she was married to Henry Berkley — Lord Berk- 
ley, viz. on the loth of March, 1597, and, survi- 
ving her second husband, died Jan. 3, 1617-18. 



12 



T O W' N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Robert Townshend, youngest son of Sir Roger, 
was knighted at the Charter House by King 
James I, on May ii, 1603; and took to wife 
Anne, daughter of WilHam Lord Spencer, but 
died without issue, having been elected for Castle 
Rising and Orford, to all parliaments from 42 
Elizabeth to the last parliament of King James I. 

John Townshend, Esq., the eldest son, was 
elected to parliament for Castle Rising, in Nor- 
folk, in 35 Elizabeth ; and four years after, when 
the Earl of Essex had concerted the invading of 
the Spanish dominions, in the year 1596, he fol- 
lowed the example of his father, going in person 
in the service of his country, in that expedition; 
and for his signal valour in entering the town of 
Cales, was knighted by the general. 

After his return, he was the same year elected 
to parliament one of the Knights for the county 
of Norfolk; and in the 35th of Elizabeth for 
the borough of Castle Rising, in the same county; 
also in the 43d of Elizabeth for the borough of 
Orford, in Suffolk; and was a leading member 
in the first parliament called by King James; 
being appointed, among others of the principal 
members, to consider of the grievances of the 
nation ; and in a committee for a conference with 
the lords, concerning wardships ; as also in other 
special affairs, as the journals of the house of 
commons show. During the sitting of this par- 
liament he had the misfortune of falling into a 
quarrel with Sir Matthew Brown, of Beachworth 
Castle, in Surrey, which ended in a duel fought 
between them on horseback on Hounslow heath, 
wherein they were both mortally wounded. Sir 
Matthew dying on the spot, and Sir John 
Townshend soon after, on August 2, 1603, in the 
first year of King James I. He was possessed of 
a very great estate, as appears by two inquisitions 
taken after his death, at Thetford, one on the 
8th of June, and one on the last of November the 
same year, wherein it was found that Roger, his 
son and heir, was eight years of age, and that 
he died possessed in the county of Norfolk of the 
manors of Reynham, and Sherbornes in West 
Reynham, the manor and castle of Rudham, with 
the rectory, the lordship of Holloughton, the 
scite of the priory of Coxford, the manors of 
Ingaldesthorpe, Scales, Barwick, Haviles, Reyton, 
Halles Payne and Morehouse, Scales, Horsham, 
with the rectory and advowson of the vicarage of 
the church, Buckenhams in Barwick, Eatshall and 
Stanhoe, Sherburnes in Stanhoe, Stinton Hall, 
Stibard, Pandles, and Barnier, with other lands 
and tenements. He married Anne, eldest daugh- 
ter and co-heir of Sir Nathaniel Bacon, of Stifkey 
in Norfolk. Knight of the Bath, (second son by 
the first wife of Lord Keeper Bacon, and elder 
brother of the half-blood of the famous Lord 
Verulam). By her he had a daughter. Elizabeth, 
who was married to John Spelman, Esq. ; and a 
second son. Stanhope Townshend, who went a 
volunteer in the service of the States of Holland 
against the Spaniards; and being wounded in a 
duel in the Low Countries, it occasioned his 
death, though he lived to come into England,, dy- 
ing at London unmarried, Nov. 6, 1620. 



Roger Townshend, his eldest son, was created 
a Baronet by King James I, by letters patent 
bearing date April 16, 161 7, in the fifteenth year 
of his reign, and the ninety-eight in order of 
creation. He rendered himself so conspicuous, 
and was so well esteemed in his country, that in 
the third year of King Charles I, anno 1627, he 
was unanimously elected one of the knights in 
parliament for the county of Norfolk; was sheriff 
of that county in the fifth year of King Charles I, 
and served in all other offices suiting his degree. 
He resided for the most part of his life in the 
country, an eminent example of all christian vir- 
tues ; and is mentioned with honour by Sir Henry 
Spelman, who says "Coxford abbey, after the 
Dissolution, came to the duke of Norfolk, who 
was beheaded 2d June, 1572, 14 Eliz. The queen 
then granted it to Edward earl of Oxon, who 
wasted all his patrimony. Sir Roger Townsend 
then bought it, who had issue sir John Townsend 
and sir Robert Townsend. Sir Robert died with- 
out issue: sir John has issue sir Roger the bar- 
onet, and Stanhope and Ann, married to John 
Spelman ; he falling into a quarel with sir Mat- 
thew Brown of Betchworth castle, in Surrey, each 
of them slew other in a duel, i Jac. Stanhope 

Townsend wounded mortally by 

in a duel in the Low-Countries, came into Eng- 
land, and died at London. Sir Roger, the bar- 
onet, intending to build a goodly house at 
Rainham, and to fetch stone for the same from 
Coxford abbey, by advice of sir Nathaniel Bacon, 
his grandfather, began to demolish the church 
there, which till then was standing: and beginning 
with the steeple, the first stone (as it is said) in 
the fall brake a man's leg, which somewhat 
amazed them; yet contemning such advertisement, 
they proceeded in the work, and overthrowing the 
steeple, it fell upon a house by, and breaking it 
down, slew in it one Mr. Seller, that lay lame in 
it of a broken leg, gotten at foot-ball, others hav- 
ing saved themselves by fright and flight. Sir 
Roger having digged the cellaring of his new 
house, and raised the walls with some of the 
abbey stone breast-high, the wall reft from the 
corner stones, though it was clear above ground ; 
which being reported to me by my servant, Rich- 
ard Tedcastle, I viewed them with mine own 
eyes, and found it so. Sir Roger, utterly dismayed 
with these occurrents, gave over his begun foun- 
dation ; and digging a new wholly out of the 
ground, about twenty yards more forward toward 
the north, hath there finished a stately house, 
using none of the abbey stone about it, but em- 
ployed the same in building a parsonage-house for 
the minister of that town, and about the walls of 
the churchyard, &c. Himself also shewed me that 
as his first foundation reft in sunder, so the new 
bridge, which he had made of the same stone at 
the foot of the hill, which ascendeth to his house, 
settled down with a belly as if it would fall. But 
if there be any offences or ominous consequences 
depending upon such possessions, he hath very 
nobly and piously endeavored to expatiate it; for 
he hath given back to the church three or four 
appropriations." 



13 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Other writers of those times ; being universally 
esteemed for his piety and charity, having nobly 
endowed several churches with impropriations, to 
the yearly value of some hundred pounds. He 
built from the ground a stately house at Rayn- 
ham, now the mansion seat of the family, and 
departed this life on January ist, 1636, aged 
forty-one years, and was buried in the church of 
East Raynham. He took to wife Mary, second 
daughter and co-heir of the famous Horatio Vere, 
Lord Vere of Tilbury, by whom he had two sons 
and five daughters; and she surviving him, was 
afterwards married to Mildmay Fane, Earl of 
Westmoreland, by whom she was mother of Vere 
Fane, Earl of Westmoreland. Her sons by Sir 
Roger Townshend were, Sir Roger, and Sir Ho- 
ratio ; and her daughters, who were married after 
their father's decease, were Mary, wedded to 
Thomas Lord Crewe, of Steen, in Com. North- 
amp. ; Jane to John Windham, Esq. ; Anne to 
William Cartwright, of Ayno, in Com. North- 
amp., Esq.; Elizabeth, who died after her father's 
decease, unmarried ; and Vere, wedded to Sir 
Ralph Hare, of Stow Hall, in Com. Norf., Bart. 
Sir Roger Townshend, Bart., baptized at Stif- 
key. County Norfolk, born December 21, 1628, 
was in ward to the King, and dying in his 
minority, was succeeded by his brother Sir Ho- 
ratio Townshend, 2d, Bart. Created Baron Lynn, 
April 20, 1661. 

Sir Horatio Townshend, first Viscount Towns- 
hend, was baptized at Stifkey, County Norfolk, 
December 16, 1630, and under age during the 
civil war begun in 1641 ; but when he became 
possessed of the estate of his ancestors, which 
was one of the best of the County of Norfolk 
(as the inquisition taken after the death of his 
father shows) he was soon distinguished for his 
eminent abilities, and courted by all those who 
had the interest of their country at heart; and 
the part he acted during those times of confusion 
was a principal means of the restoration of mon- 
archy and episcopacy. Lord Clarendon says of 
him, "that he was a gentleman of the greatest 
interest and credit in that large County of Nor- 
folk, and was able to bring in a good body; that 
he had been under age till long after the end of 
the war, and so liable to no reproach or jealousy, 
yet of very worthy principles, and of a noble 
fortune, which he engaged very frankly to borrow 
money, and laid it out to provide arms and am- 
munition ; and all the King's friends in those parts 
were ready to obey him, and the Lord Willough- 
by, of Parham (whom he had brought over to 
his side), in whatsoever they undertook." And 
he says, their design in the year 1659 for sur- 
prising of Lynn, a maritime town of great im- 
portance in respect of its situation, was the best 
digested, and the most likely to succeed in re- 
storing of the King, of any that had been formed. 
He took to heart the oppression of his country, 
and had the courage, with the Lord Richardson 
and Sir John Hobart, to bring an address from 
the County of Norfolk, which, on Jan. 28, 1659, 
he presented to the members then sitting, "where- 
in they demanded the secluded members to be 



admitted, or a free Parliament chosen." This 
forwarded the arrival of Gen. Monk, and most 
counties in England followed the example, and 
delivered addresses to the same purpose. During 
the time of his being in the Council of State, he 
contracted a friendship with the Lord Fairfax, 
who was general of the army; and being intrusted 
by the King with his affairs, he delivered that 
Lord a letter from His Majesty, and brought him 
into the King's interest; which, as Lord Claren- 
don writes, greatly facilitated Gen. Monk's ad- 
vance into England, and his reception into the 
City of York. When the Long Parliament was 
dissolved, and another called to be holden at 
Westminster, April 29, 1660, this Sir Horatio and 
the Lord Richardson were elected knights for 
the County of Norfolk ; and he was nominated by 
the House of Commons, with six lords (sons of 
peers) of their body, and five other commoners, 
to attend the King at the Hague, "to desire His 
Majesty to make a speedy return to his Parlia- 
ment, and take the government of the kingdom 
into his hands." He was the first named of the 
commoners, and arriving at the Hague, they had 
their audiences of the King, May i6th, 1660; and 
Sir Horatio came over with his Majesty, who had 
a full sense of his great services; and in consid- 
eration thereof, advanced him to the dignity of 
a peer of this realm, by the title of Baron 
Townshend, of Lynn Regis, April 20, 1661 ; and 
August 19th following, constituted him Lord 
Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk, and City 
and County of Norwich. Also further advanced 
him to the title of Viscount Townshend, of Rayn- 
ham, in County Norfolk, on December 11, 1682, 
34 (Tar. H. He departed this life in December, 
1687, having married two wives. 

His first Lady was Mary, daughter and sole, 
heir to Edward Lewkenor, Esq., son and heir of 
Sir Edward Lewkenor, of Denham in Sussex, Kt., 
who deceasing without issue anno 1673, his Lord- 
ship married Mary, daughter of Sir Joseph Ashe, 
of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, 
Bart., by whom he had three sons; 
First, Charles, his successor. 
Second, Roger, who was one of the knights of 
the shire for the County of Norfolk, in the first 
Parliament of Great Britain, and one of the 
burgesses for Yarmouth, in that county, in the 
second Parliament, but died on May 22d, 1709, 
unmarried, and was buried at Raynham. 

Third, Horatio, who was member of Parliament 
for Yarmouth, in Norfolk, and afterwards for 
Heytesbury, in Wiltshire; also one of the com- 
missions of the Excise; he died October 24, 1751, 
in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and lies buried 
under an altar tomb near the northeast corner of 
Nelson's burial ground, behind the Foundling 
Hospital, as does also his wife, Alice, daughter 
of ... . Starkey, Esq., who died November 22, 
1747, aged fifty-four; by whom he had issue Ho- 
ratio, who died unmarried April 22, 1747; Mary, 
who died August 12, 1730, aged nine years and 
six months; Alice, who died Nov. 7, 1726, aged 
five months, and Letitia, their only surviving 
child, who was married July 24, 1749, to Brown- 

14 




EARL OF BUTE. 

CHARLES TOWXSHEND, 
Chancellor of the Exchequer. 



LORD NORTH. 

ARCHl'.ISHOP MARK^A^r. 

GEORGE in. 



WILLIAM PITT. 



THE KI.\G AND HIS MINISTERS. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



low, the late Earl of Exeter, but died in April, 
1756, without issue. , , , 

Charles, second Lord Viscount Townshend, took 
his seat in the House of Peers, December 3, 1697; 
and June 24, 1702, was constituted Lord Lieuten- 
ant and Custos Rotulorum of the County of Nor- 
folk, and of the City and County of Norwich. In 
1706 he was one of the commissioners that treated 
of the union between the two kingdoms; and on 
Nov. 16, 1707, was appointed captain of the yeo- 
men of her Majesty's guard; and was sworn of 
the privy council to her Majesty the 20lh of May 
following. In 1709 his Lordship, and the Duke 
of Marlborough, were appointed plenipotentiaries 
to treat of a peace with those of France. "The 
choice," says Burnet, "was well made; for as 
Lord Townshend had great parts, had improved 
them by traveling, and was by much the most 
shining person of all our young nobility, and had 
on many occasions distinguished himself very em- 
inently ; so he was a man of great integrity, and 
of good principles in all respects, free frorn all 
vice, and of an engaging conversation." Arriving 
at Gertruydenburgh, they had several conferences 
with the French ministers about a general peace; 
and preliminaries were signed by the plenipoten- 
tiaries of the allies, the Duke of Marlborough and 
his Lordship, May 28, 1709; and Monsieur de 
Torcy went with them to France; but the French 
monarch refused to ratify them. His Lordship 
continued at the Hague as her Majesty's ambas- 
sador extraordinary. In 1710, the French made 
fresh overtures for a peace, delivered by them at 
Gertruydenburgh, April 8th; but according to 
their usual delusive artful management, it ap- 
peared only to protract time ; and the conferences 
ending July 25, N. S., the States General was so 
exasperated at their shuffling, that they came to 
vigorous resolutions to push on the war, which 
are set forth in the Annals of Qucen Anne, year 
the ninth, page 22, and seq. On the change of 
the ministry that year, his Lordship not coining 
into the measures of the court, desired to be 
recalled; and thereupon it was published in our 
Gazette, March 7, 1710, "that the Lord Viscount 
Townshend, her Majesty's ambassador extraor- 
dinary and plenipotentiary to the States General 
of the United Provinces, having desired leave to 
return home, her Majesty had appointed the 
Lord Raby to succeed him." And on June 13th 
following, he was removed from his post of cap- 
tain of the yeomen of her Majesty's guard. His 
Lordship concurred in all measures for the secur- 
ing of the Protestant succession ; and on the 
demise of the Queen, he was, by King George I, 
according to the power invested in him by Act 
of Parliament, nominated one of the lords justices 
of Great Britain, till he arrived from Hanover. 
And in pursuance of his Majesty's pleasure, sig- 
nified to the lords justices, he was, on September 
17th, 1714, sworn principal secretary of state, and 
took his place at the board accordingly. Three 
days after his Majesty arriving, he was received 
with great marks of his favour. 

At this period Coxe gives the following char- 
acter of him. "Charles Viscount Townshend, who 



now took the lead in the administration, had 
taken his seat in the house of peers in i6g6; and 
being of a Tory family, attached himself so 
strongly to that party, that he signed the protest 
respecting the impeachment of the Whig Lords. 
But his zeal for the Tories soon abated, and even 
took a contrary direction, to which the repre- 
sentations and conduct of his friend Walpole 
greatly contributed. He then attached himself to 
Somers, and acted so cordially with the Whigs, 
that when William formed a new administration, 
principally composed of that party, a rumour was 
confidentially circulated that he was appointed 
privy-seal. In 1706, he was nominated one of the 
commissioners for settling the union with Scot- 
land; in 1707, captain of the yeomen of the 
Queen's guard; and in 1709 accompanied the 
Duke of Marlborough to Gertruydenberg, as joint 
plenipotentiary, to open a negotiation for peace 
with France ; he was deputed in the same year 
ambassador extraordinary to the States General, 
and concluded with them the Barrier Treaty. 
Soon after the change of the Whig administra- 
tion, he resigned his embassy, was removed from 
his post of captain of the yeomen, and censured 
by the Tory House of Commons for having 
signed that treaty. During the early part of the 
reign of Queen Anne, on account of his youth, 
he acted only a subordinate part, and was not 
considered as one of the great leaders of the 
Whig interest ; but towards the close of that 
reign, his services and decisive conduct raised 
his consequence ; and he gained great accession of 
character with his party, on being prosecuted at 
while lying on his death bed, he said : "I am 
the same time with the Duke of Marlborough. 

"Though actually of slow parts, he had ac- 
quired from long experience the talent that ren- 
dered him an able man of business, which was 
the sole object of his ambition ; he was rough in 
manners, impatient of contradiction, of a san- 
guine disposition, impetuous and overbearing; 
though inelegant in language, and often perplexed 
in argument, yet he spoke sensibly, and often 
with a thorough knowledge of his subject. He 
was generous, highly disinterested, of unblemished 
integrity, and unsullied honor; initiated in diplo- 
matic transactions during the congress at Ger- 
truydenberg and the Hague, he cherished too great 
an attachment to negotiation, and fond of vision- 
ary schemes, was too apt to propose bold and 
decisive measures, which the more temperate and 
pacific disposition of Walpole was continually 
employed in counteracting. 

"During the two months which immediately 
preceded the Queen's death, and the interval 
which ensued between that event and the arrival 
of the King, he seems to have secured and gov- 
erned Bothmar, and the other Hanoverian agents 
in England ; to have supplanted Sunderland and 
Halifax, and to have obtained the entire con- 
fidence of the King, of which he had previously 
acquired a very distinguished share, by his great 
reputation for integrity and talents, by the recom- 
mendation of Pensionary Heinsius, Slingelandt, 
and other leading men of the Dutch Republic, 



15 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



and by his uniform adherence to the cause of the 
Protestant succession. 

"An early and intimate connection had been 
formed between Townshend and VValpole ; they 
were distantly related, neighbors in the same 
county, and educated at the same school ; they 
joined the same party, acted under the same lead- 
ers, underwent the same persecutions, and co- 
operated in the same opposition. The marriage 
which Townshend had contracted with Dorothy 
VValpole in 1713, drew closer the bonds of amity, 
and added an union of blood to the connections 
of party. Walpole had performed too many es- 
sential services to the Hanover family, and was 
too able a speaker in the House of Commons, 
not to occupy a distinguished situation at the 
accession of George the First, and his connection 
with Townshend facilitated his promotion." 

On December 12, 1716, the seals of secretary of 
state were taken from him, and Jan. 23, 1716-17, 
he was prevailed on to accept the Lord Lieuten- 
antcy of Ireland; but declined going over to that 
kingdom, and was dismissed on the 19th of April 
following. On June 11, 1720, he was constituted 
president of the council, and the same year was 
one of the lords justices in his Majesty's absence. 

On February 10, 1720-21, he was again made 
principal secretary of state, and the 26th of May, 
1723, on his Majesty's going abroad, one of the 
lords justices of Great Britain; and embarking 
with the King, in his passage through Osnaburgh 
was very graciously received by the Duke of 
York. The deaths of Stanhope and Sunderland 
served to remove all obstacles to the power of 
Townshend and Walpole, who now became the 
great leaders of the Whigs, and being strictly 
united both in blood and interest, concentered in 
themselves the favor of the crown and the confi- 
dence of their party. On July gth, 1724, being 
elected a Knight of the most noble order of the 
Garter, he was installed at Windsor on the 28th 
of the same month. On June i, 1725, he was 
likewise one of the lords justices, and waited on 
his Majesty that year at Hanover; from whence 
he returned to Rye with the King, after a very 
dangerous passage, in stormy weather. In 1727, 
he was again one of the lords justices, and waited 
on the King, who arrived at Helvoetsluys the 6th 
of June, and departed this life the nth following, 
at Osnaburgh : thereupon his Lordship returned, 
and waited on King George II, on the 19th of 
June. On July 24th ensuing, he delivered the 
seals of his office of secretary of state to his 
Majesty, when he was pleased to deliver them to 
him again; after which, on September sth. he was 
appointed Lord Lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum 
of the County of Norfolk, and City and County 
of Norwich. In 1729, he also attended the King 
to Hanover. And on May 15, 1730, resigned the 
post of secretary of state, of which our Gazette 
makes this mention : "Whitehall, May i6th. The 
Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Townshend 
having received his Majesty's permission, resigned 
the seals of secretary of state on Friday last." 

"The treaty of Seville." says Coxe, "was the 
concluding act of Townshend's administration; it 



was signed on the gth of November, 1729, and 
on the i6th of May he retired in disgust from the 
office of secretary of state. His resignation was 
owing to a disagreement with his brother-in-law 
and coadjutor. Sir Robert Walpole, which had 
long subsisted. It had been occasionally com- 
promised by the interference of common friends, 
but finally broke into a rupture, which rendered 
the continuance of both in office incompatible. 
The causes of this misunderstanding were vari- 
ous, and originated from the difference of their 
tempers, from disagreement on subjects of do- 
mestic and foreign politics, from political and 
private jealousy. Townshend was frank, impetu- 
ous, and overbearing; long accustomed to dictate 
in the cabinet, and fond of recommending violent 
measures. Walpole was mild, insinuating, pliant 
and good-tempered; desirous of conciliating by 
lenient methods, but prepared to employ vigor, 
when vigor was necessary. 

"The rough and impetuous manners of Towns- 
hend began to alienate the King, and disgust the 
Queen. All the members of the cabinet were no 
less dissatisfied with him. Newcastle in particular 
was anxious to remove a minister who absolutely 
directed all foreign affairs, and who rendered him 
a mere cypher. He wished to procure the ap- 
pointment of Lord Harrington, who already owed 
his peerage to him, and who, he flattered himself, 
would act in subservience to his dictates. 

"To these public causes of misunderstanding, 
derived from a desire of pre-eminence, a private 
motive was unfortunately added. The family of 
Townshend had long been the most conspicuous, 
and accustomed to take the lead as the only one 
then distinguished by a peerage in the County of 
Norfolk ; the Walpoles were subordinate both in 
estate and consequence; and Houghton was far 
inferior in splendor to Raynham. But circum- 
stances were much altered. Sir Robert Walpole 
was at the head of the treasury; a peerage had 
been conferred on his son ; the increase of his 
paternal domains, the building of a magnificent 
seat, the acquisition of a superb collection of 
paintings, a sumptuous style of living, and affable 
manners, drew to Houghton a conflux of com- 
pany; and eclipsed the more sober and less splen- 
did establishment of Raynhain. 

"Walpole had long been considered as the first 
minister in all business relating to the internal 
affairs; he was the principal butt of opposition; 
for the name of Townshend scarcely once occurs 
in the "Craftsman," and the other political papers 
against government, while that of Walpole is seen 
in almost every page. 

"His influence over the Queen had on the acces- 
sion of George II prevented the removal of 
Townshend. He managed the House of Com- 
mons and was supported by a far greater number 
of friends than his brother minister could boast, 
who had little parliamentary interest and still less 
personal credit. Walpole felt in all these cir- 
cumstances his superior consequence; he was 
conscious that he should be supported by the 
Queen, and was unwilling to continue to act in a 
subordinate situation ; while Townshend, who had 



16 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



long been used to dictate, would not bear any 
opposition to his sentiments, or any resistance to 
his views. He considered his brother minister as 
one who had first enlisted himself under his ban- 
ners, and who ought to continue to act with the 
same implicit obedience to his commands, hence 
a struggle for power ensued." 

"Townshend retired with the most unsullied 
character for integrity, honor and disinterested- 
ness, and gave several striking proofs that he 
could command the natural warmth of his temper, 
and rise superior to the malignant influence of 
party spirit and disappointed ambition. He passed 
the evening of his days in the pursuit of rural 
occupations and agricultural experiments ; his im- 
provements ameliorated the state of husbandry ; 
his hospitality endeared to his neighbors, and the 
dignity of his character ensured respect. Appre- 
hensive of being tempted again to enter into those 
scenes of active life which he had resolved totally 
to abandon, he never re-visited the capital but 
died at Raynham in 1738, aged sixty-four." 

His lordship married, first, Elizabeth, only issue 
of Thomas Lord Pelham, father of his Grace 
Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, by his first wife 
Elizabeth, daughter and heir to Sir William 
Jones, Kt., attorney general to King Charles H. 
Her ladyship, who was heir to her mother, died 
on May 11, 171 1, leaving issue a daughter, Eliza- 
beth, married to Charles, first Earl Cornwallis ; 
and four sons : 

First, Charles, the third Viscount Townshend. 

Second, Thomas, father of the late Viscount 
Sydney, for whom see that title. 

Third, William, father of Lord Bayning, for 
whom see that title. 

Fourth, Roger, youngest son, was captain of a 
troop of horse in Gen. Wade's regiment ; and on 
the death of his brother William, was cliosen 
member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth afore- 
said ; also was chosen for the same place in the 
succeeding Parliament; and in 1747 served for 
Eye, in Suffolk. On July 9, 1743. he was ap- 
pointed aid-de-camp to his Majesty, and was that 
year at the battle of Dettingen ; and on the sth 
of January, 1744-5, made governor of the forts 
and batteries of Yarmouth. On February 28, 
1747-8, he was made receiver general and cashier 
of his Majesty's customs; he died Aug. 7, 17O0, 
unmarried, and is buried at Oiiselhurst, in Kent, 
where an handsome monument is erected to his 
memorj'. Born June 15, 1708; died Aug. 7, 1760. 

His Lordship married, secondly, in July 1713, 
Dorothy, daughter of Robert Walpole, of Hough- 
ton, in Norfolk, Esq., and sister to Sir Robert 
Walpole, first Earl of Orford, who left him a 
widower, March 29, 1726, by whom he had issue 
four sons and two daughters : 

First, the Honorable George Townshend, who 
took to a maritime life; in 1747, being commodore 
of a squadron of his Majesty's ships in the West 
Indies, he took a large fleet of French merchant 
ships ; and on the fourth of February, 1755, was 
appointed rear admiral of the White, in his 
Majesty's navy; he died August 9, 1762, aged 
fifty-four. 



Second, Augustus Townshend, who made sev- 
eral voyages to China, as chief supercargo and 
captain in the service of the East India Company; 
in which station he died in Batavia, unmarried, 
in 1746, having then the command of the Au- 
gusta. 

Third, Horatio Townshend, who was in the late 
reign appointed a commissioner for victualing the 
royal navy, and continued in that office by the 
present king until his death, which happened at 
Lisbon (whither he had gone for the recovery of 
his health) in February. 1764. and unmarried. 

Fourth, Edward Townshend, prebend of West- 
minster, deputy clerk of the closet to his Majesty, 
and Dean of Norwich, who died on Jan. 27, 
1765; in 1747 he married Mary, daughter of brig- 
adier general Price, by whom he left issue one 
son, Edward in holy orders, who married March 
23, 1785, Louisa, daughter of the late Sir William 
Milner, Bart., and five daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, 
Henrietta, who died unmarried ; Charlotte, mar- 
ried on ;\Iay 12, 1773, at Lambeth Chapel, to John 
Norris, of Whitton in Norfolk, Esq. ; and Lucy, 
who died unmarried. 

Of his Lordship's two daughters, Dorothy, mar- 
ried in 1743 to Dr. Spencer Cowper, late Dean 
of Durham, only brother of William, Earl Cow- 
per, and died 1799 without issue; and Mary, 
wedded to the late Honorable Lieutenant General 
Edward Cornwallis, member of Parliament for 
the City of Westminster ; Governor of Gibraltar, 
and brother to Charles, late Earl Cornwallis, and 
died without issue, Dec. 29, 1776. 

Charles, third Lord Viscount Townshend, born 
July II, 1700, was, in his father's lifetime, sum- 
moned to the house of peers, by the style and title 
of Baron Lynne, of Lynne Regis, in the County 
of Norfolk, May 24, 1723, in 9 George L and took 
his place according to his grandfather's patent of 
creation. Also on the same day his Majesty was 
pleased to appoint him one of the gentlemen of 
his bed-chamber. And on June 15, 1730, his 
Majesty appointed his lordship Lord Lieutenant 
and Custos Rotulorum of the County of Norfolk, 
and of the city of Norwich and county thereof at 
the desire of his father, the Lord Viscount 
Townshend, who resigned to him. And also on 
the same day granted to his lordship the office 
of master or treasurer of his Majesty's jewels; 
which, on succeeding his father in his honors 
and estate, he resigned in 1738, as he had the 
places of Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum, 
in January, 1739-40. His Lordship erected and 
endowed at Raynham a charity school for cloth- 
ing and educating thirty boys and twenty girls; 
the latter to be brought up in spinning. His 
Lordship departed this life on May 12, 1764, in 
his return from Bath, whither he had gone for 
the benefit of his health. In May, 1723, his Lord- 
ship married Audrey, daughter and sole heir of 
Edward Harrison, of Balls, in the County of 
Hertford, Esq., formerly Governor of Fort St. 
George, in the East Indies, and by her ladyship 
had issue, a daughter, Audrey, married to Robert 
Orme, Esq., who died February, 1781, at Hart- 
ford, and five sons. 

17 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



First, George, the late Marquis. 

Second, Charles, seated at Adderbury, in Ox- 
fordshire, celebrated for his brilliant talents, by 
which he distinguished himself in a most eminent 
degree, both in the senate and cabinet. He was 
chosen member for the town of Yarmouth, in 
the Parliament which sat for the dispatch of busi- 
ness in November 12, 1747, and May I, 1754, and 
was returned for the borough of Harwich, in 
Essex, to the Parliament which convened on 
March 3, 1761. He was, in conjunction with his 
brother, a sedulous promoter of the laws for 
establishing a national militia, even when the 
court seemed rather averse to that measure. In 
June, 1749, he was constituted one of the com- 
missioners of trade and the plantations; in June, 
I75l> was appointed one of the commissioners for 
executing tfie office of lord high admiral of Great 
Britain, as he was also at a new nomination in 
1754. In 1756 he was declared treasurer of. his 
Majesty's chamber, by which his seat in Parlia- 
ment being vacated, he was soon after chosen for 
the Borough of Saltash, in Cornwall, and about 
the same time was sworn of the privy council. 
At the accession of his present Majesty he was 
continued at the council board, and, in his office 
as treasurer of the chambers, which on March 24, 
1761, he quitted, on being appointed secretary at 
war. He resigned this office in February, 1763; 
and was on March ist following, appointed first 
lord of trade and the plantations; on June 8, 1765, 
he was constituted paymaster-general of all his 
majesty's land forces; and on August 2, 1766, was 
appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and one 
of the lords of the treasury, in which high post 
he continued to his death, which happened on 
September 4, 1767, being then forty-two years of 
age. 

"Charles Townshend," says Adolphus, "from 
whose splendid abilities government was expected 
to receive a new impulse, and whose talents were 
employed in an attempt to rescue the administra- 
tion from the feebleness of fluctuating councils, 
was celebrated for that pointed and finished wit, 
which rendered him the delight and ornament of 
Parliament, and the charm of private society. In 
his speeches he brought together, in a short 
compass, all that was necessary to establish, to 
illustrate, and to decorate that side of the ques- 
tion which he supported. He stated his matter 
skillfully and powerfully ; his style of argument 
was neither trite and vulgar, nor subtle and ab- 
struse. He excelled in a most luminous e.xplana- 
tion and display of his subject. His defects arose 
from his lively talents and exquisite penetration; 
he readily perceived and decried the errors of 
his coadjutors, and from the versatility of his 
political conduct acquired the nick-name of "the 
Weathercock." He sat in Parliament twenty 
years, and successively filled the places of lord 
of trade, and of the admiralty, secretary at war, 
paymaster of the forces, and chancellor of the 
exchequer, in which offices he executed business 
with such accuracy and dispatch as demonstrated 
that genius and industry are not incompatible. He 
was carried off in the meridian of life, at the 



age of forty-two, at a time when it might be 
hoped his lively talents were matured by experi- 
ence, and the irregular sallies of his versatile 
temper subjected to the restraints of judgment. 

But it is impossible to refrain from giving some 
of those passages of splendid eloquence, from one 
of Burke's celebrated speeches, in which this 
statesman's memory has been embalmed, and 
from which indeed all other characters of him 
have been borrowed. This great orator in his 
speech on American taxation, after speaking of 
Lord Chatham, goes on thus : 

"Even then, Sir, before this splendid orb was 
entirely set, and while the western horizon was 
in a blaze with his descending glory, on the 
opposite quarter of the heavens, arose another 
luminary, and for his hour, became lord of the 
ascendant. 

"This light too is passed, and set forever. You 
understand, to be sure, that I speak of Charles 
Townshend, officially the reproducer of this fatal 
scheme (of American taxation); whom I cannot 
even now remember without some degree of sen- 
sibility. In truth. Sir, he was the delight and 
ornament of this house, and the charm of every 
private society which he honored with his pres- 
ence. Perhaps there never arose in this country, 
nor in any country, a man of a more pointed and 
finished wit; and (where his passions were not 
concerned) of a more refined, exquisite, and 
penetrating judgment. If he had not so great a 
stock, as some have had who flourished formerly, 
of knowledge long treasured up, he knew better 
by far, than any man I ever was acquainted with, 
how to bring together, within a short time, all 
that was necessary to establish, to illustrate, and 
to decorate that side of the question he supported. 
He stated his matter skillfully and powerfully; 
he particularly excelled in a most luminous ex- 
planation, and display of his subject. His style 
of argument was neither trite and vulgar, nor 
subtle and abstruse. He hit the house just be- 
tween wind and water. And not being troubled 
vyith too anxious a zeal for any matter in ques- 
tion, he was never more tedious, or more earnest, 
than the preconceived opinions and present tem- 
per of his hearers required; to whom he was al- 
ways in perfect unison. He conformed exactly 
to the temper of the house; and he seemed to 
guide, because he was always sure to follow it. 
There are many young members in the house 
(such of late has been the rapid succession of 
public men) who never saw that prodigy, Charles 
Townshend, nor of course knew what a ferment 
he was able to excite in every thing, by the 
violent ebullition of his mixed virtues and fail- 
ings, for failings he had undoubtedly ; many of us 
remember them: we are this day considering the 
efl'ect of them. But he had no failings which 
were not owing to a noble cause; to an ardent, 
generous, perhaps an immoderate passion for 
fame; a passion which is the instinct of all great 
souls. He worshiped that goddess wheresoever 
she appeared ; but he paid his particular devotions 
to her in her favorite habitations, in her chosen 
temple, the House of Commons. 

18 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



"That fear of displeasing those who ought most 
to be pleased, betrayed him sometimes into the 
other extreme. He had voted, and, in the year 
1765, had been an advocate for the stamp act. 
He therefore attended at the private meeting, in 
which the resolutions moved by a Right Hon- 
orable Gentleman were settled; resolutions leading 
to the repeal : and he would have spoken for it 
too, if an illness (not as was then given out a 
political, but to my knowledge a very real ill- 
ness), had not prevented it. 

"The very next session, as the fashion of this 
world passeth away, the repeal began to be in as 
bad an odor in this house, as the stamp act had 
been in the session before. To conform to the 
temper which began to prevail, and to prevail 
mostly amongst those most in power, he declared, 
very early in the winter, that a revenue must be 
had out of America. Instantly he was tied down 
to his engagements by some, who had no objec- 
tion to such experiments, when made at the cost 
of persons for whom they had no particular re- 
gard. The whole body of courtiers drove him 
onward. They always talked as if the King stood 
in a sort of humiliated state, until something of 
the kind should be done. 

"Here this extraordinary man, then chancellor 
of the exchequer, found himself in great straits : 
to please universally was the object of his life; 
but to tax and to please, no more than to love 
and to be wise, is not given to men. However, 
he attempted it. 

"He was truly the child of the house. He 
never thought, did, or said anything but with a 
view to you. He every day adapted himself to 
your disposition; and adjusted himself before it 
as at a looking-glass. 

"He had observed (indeed it could not escape 
him) that several persons, infinitely his inferiors 
in all respects, had formerly rendered themselves 
considerable in this house by one method alone. 

"The fortune of such men was a temptation too 
great to be resisted by one to whom a single whiff 
of incense withheld, gave much greater pain, 
than he received delight in the clouds of it, which 
daily rose about him from the prodigal super- 
stition of innumerable admirers. He was a can- 
didate for contradictory honors ; and his great 
aim was to make those agree in admiration of 
him who never agreed in anything else." 

On August 15, 1735, he married Lady Caroline, 
eldest daughter and co-heir of John, Duke of 
Argyll and Greenwich, widow of Francis. Earl of 
Dalkeith, eldest son of Francis, Duke of Buc- 
cleugh ; by which lady (who was created Baroness 
of Greenwich, December 22, 1766, with limitation 
of that honor to her sons, by the said Charles 
Townshend, Esq.), he left issue two sons, Thomas 
Charles, born June 22, 1758, who was found dead 
in his marquee at Cox Heath camp, Oct. 29, 1782; 
he was captain in the forty-fifth regiment; and 
William Johii, born March 29, 1761, who also 
died unmarried before his mother; also one 
daughter, Anne, bom June 29, 1756, married 
March 22, 1779, Richard Wilson, Esq., by whom 



she has issue. Lady Greenwich died in 1794, 
when the title became extinct. 

Edward, third son, died of the small-pox, June 

29- 1731, unmarried; , the fourth son, 

died youtig. 

Roger, the fifth and youngest son, entered young 
into the army, and at length attained the rank of 
lieutenant-colonel of foot, in which station he was 
unfortunately killed by a cannon shot at Ticon- 
deroga, in North America, July 25, 1759, being 
then in the twenty-eighth year of his age, and 
unmarried. His melancholy fate was universally 
lamented, and, together with his character, is 
elegantly and justly described in the following in- 
scription, on a monument which has since been 
erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey: 

This monument was erected by a disconsolate 

parent, the Lady Viscountess Townshend, 

To the memory of her fifth son. 

The Hon. Lieutenant Colonel Roger Townshend, 

who was killed by a cannon ball on the 25th of 

July, I7S9, in the 28th year of his age. 

As he was reconnoitering the French lines at 

Ticonderoga, in North America. 

From the parent, the brother, and the friend, 

His social and amiable manners, 

His enterprising bravery. 

And the integrity of his heart, 

May claim the tribute of affliction. 

Yet, stranger I weep not ; 

For though premature his death, 

His life was glorious; 

Enrolling him with the names of those immortal 

Statesmen and Commanders 

Whose wisdom and intrepidity. 

In the course of this comprehensive 

and successful war, 

Have extended the commerce, 

Enlarged the dominion. 

And upheld the majesty of these kingdoms, 

Beyond the idea of any former age. 

George, the fourth Viscount and first Marquis, 
was born on February 27, 1723-4, and had his 
Majesty King George I as one of his sponsors. 
He was chosen one of the knights of the shire 
for the County of Norfolk, in the Parliament 
which met on August 3, 1747; being then colonel 
of a company in the foot guards, and aid-de-camp 
to his Royal Highness William, Duke of Cumber- 
land, both of which he resigned in 1750. He 
served under (}eorge II, at the battle of Dettin- 
gen; he served also in the battles of Fontenoy, 
Culloden, and Lafeldt; also at the memorable 
siege of Quebec, which town surrendered into his 
hands as commander-in-chief, after the fatal death 
of Wolfe. He continued to represent his native 
county, till his accession to the peerage, on the 
death of his noble father, on March 12, 1764; two 
years before which he was appointed lieutenant- 
general of the ordnance, and on October 17, 1772, 
his Lordship was appointed master-general of the 
ordnance, from which he was removed in 1782 
and again appointed 1783, and again removed in 
December following. On August 12, 1767, his 



19 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Lordship kissed his Majesty's hand at St. James's, 
on his being appointed lord lieutenant and general 
governor of the Kingdom of Ireland; and em- 
barking at Holyhead, on October 13th. arrived at 
Dublin the next day, and was immediately sworn 
into that high and important trust. The first year 
of his presiding in that kingdom will be ever 
memorable in the history thereof, as productive of 
a bill for septennial parliaments. 

On October 27, 1787, he was created Marquis 
Townshend. 

His Lordship was colonel of the Queen's regi- 
ment of dragoon guards, field marshal of his 
Majesty's forces, and one of his Majesty's most 
honorable privy council ; governor of Jersey, lord 
lieutenant, vice-admiral, Custos Rotulorum of 
Norfolk; high steward of Tamworth, Yarmouth, 
and Norwich, &c. He died September 14, 1807, 
set. 84. 

In December, 1751, he married, first Lady Char- 
lotte Compton, only surviving issue of James, Earl 
of Northampton, by Elizabeth Shirley, Baroness 
de Ferrars, by which Lady, who was in her own 
right Baroness de Ferrars, Bourchier, Lovaine, 
Bassett, and Compton, he had issue four sons. 

First, George, born April 18, 1753, second Mar- 
quis. 

Second, Lord John, born Jan. 19, 1757; who in 
1780 was elected member of Parliament for the 
University of Cambridge ; made a lord of ad- 
miralty in 1782, and again in 1783; on both which 
occasions vacating his seat he was re-elected. In 
1788 he was elected for the city of Westminster; 
and from 1793 to the present time, for Knares- 
borough, in Yorkshire. In February, 1806, he was 
appointed joint paymaster of the army, and a lord 
of trade and plantations, from which he was re- 
moved in the spring of the following year. He 
married, April 10, 1787, Georgina Anne Poyntz, 
daughter of William Poyntz, Esq., of Midgham, 
in Berkshire, who had been before the wife of 
Everard Fawkener, Esq. ; which marriage was 
dissolved by act of Parliament. By her he had 
issue, first, Audrey Harriet, born February i, 
1788; second, Elizabeth Frances, born August 2, 
1789; third, Isabella Georgina, born February i, 
1791 ; fourth, Jane, born September 28, 1792; fifth, 
Charles Fo.x, born June 28, 1795; sixth, Anne, 
born Aug. 31, 1798; seventh, John, born March 
28, 1790 (fourth Marquis his son, present Mar- 
quis, 1881 ) ; eighth, Caroline, died young. 

Third, Lord Frederick Patrick, born December 
30, 1767, in holy orders. 

Fourth, Lord Charles Patrick Thomas, born at 
Leixlip in Ireland, January 6, 1768. He was 
elected member of Parliament for Yarmouth, 
1796, and died immediately afterwards, May 27th 
of that year. 

Also four daughters, Charlotte, Caroline, Fran- 
ces, who all died young, and Elizabeth, born in 
August, 1766. married on May 7, 1790, lieutenant- 
general William Loftus, colonel of the twenty- 
fourth regiment of dragoons, and governor of 
Dunbarton Castle, and has issue. 

Her Ladyship departing this life at Leixlip 
Castle, in County Kildare, on September 14, 1770, 



her remains were brought over to England, and 
interred on October 1st, among his Lordship's 
ancestors at Raynham. She was succeeded in the 
Barony of De Ferrars by her eldest son. 

On May 19, 1773, his Lordship was married to 
his second Lady, Anne, daughter of Sir William 
Montgomery, Bart., member of Parliament for 
Ballynakill, in the Kingdom of Ireland ; and by 
her had the following issue. 

Lady Anne, born February I, 1775, married Oc- 
tober 26, 179s, Harrington Hudson, Esq. 

Lady Charlotte, born March 19, 1776, married 
August 9, 1797, George William Frederick, pres- 
ent Duke of Leeds. 

Lady Honoria Maria, born July 6th, 1777. 

Lord William, born September 5, 1778; a mid- 
shipman on board the Boyne, died in the West 
Indies, 1794. 

Lady Henrietta, born April 20, 1782. 

Lord James Nugent Boyle Bernardo, born Sep- 
tember ir, 1785. A captain in the navy. 

His Lordship was succeeded by his eldest son 
George, Earl of Leicester, who thus became sec- 
ond Marquis Townshend. 

His Lordship on his mother's decease, succeeded 
to the titles of Lord De Ferrars (of Chartley), 
Lord Bourchier, Lovaine, Bassett, and Compton, 
being at that time seventeen years of age. Soon 
after his coming of age, having demanded his 
writ of summons to the house of peers, as Baron 
de Ferrars, of Chartley, he took his seat in that 
house in April, 1774, being placed on the Baron's 
bench, according to the precedency of that ancient 
Barony, between the Lord Audley and the Lord 
Dacre. 

On December 24, 1777, his Lordship was mar- 
ried to Charlotte, second sister and co-heir to 
Roger Mainwaring Ellerker, of Risby, in the East 
Riding of the County of York, Esq., and daugh- 
ter of Eaton Mainwaring Ellerker, Esq., of the 
same place, which Eaton Ellerker, Esq., was pa- 
ternally descended from a collateral line of the 
very ancient family of the Mainwarings, of Over 
Peover in the County Palatine of Chester, and as- 
sumed the name and arms of the ancient family 
of Ellerker of Risby, by act of Parliament, pur- 
suant to the will of his kinsman, Ellerker Brad- 
shaw, of Risby, Esq., by which lady his Lordship 
has had issue three sons and several daughters. 

First, George Ferrars Townshend, styled Earl 
of Leicester, born in Wimpole street, Mary-le- 
bone, Midlesex, December 13, 1778, married May 
12, 1807, Miss Gardner, daughter of W. D. Gard- 
ner, Esq. 

Second, Thomas Compton Townshend, born in 
Wimpole street, aforesaid, March 29, 1780, died 
January 7, 1787. 

Third, Lord Vere Charles, an ensign in the 
third regiment of foot-guards. 

Fourth, Lady Charlotte Barbara, born at Pend- 
ley House, in the parish of Aldbury, in Hert- 
fordshire, June 26, 1781; married, April, 1805, 
Capt. Cecil Bishopp. of the first foot-guards, eldest 
son of Sir Cecil Bishopp, Bart., and died October 
3, 1807. 

Fifth, Lady Harriet Ann, born in Upper Brook 



20 







JUIIN TOWNSIIKNI). 

Admiral in the Royal Navy ami M. P. for Tam- 
worth; 4th Marcinis Townshcnd of Raynliam. Cimiity 
Norfolk, Rngland. 



KLIZADETII JANE STUAKT. 

Grt-at grand-dauKlitrr of tlu- ICarl of I'.utc ; 4tli 
Marchioness Townshcnd of Ravnhaiii, County Nor- 
folk. KuRland. 



LADY AKOREY-JANE CHARLOTTE. 

Daughter 4tli Marquis Townshcnd; married first a 
son of the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire; second, 
General Sir Rcdveis liullcr, nepliew of the Duke of 
Norfolk. 



GENERAL SIR REDVERS BULLER. 

Nephew of the Duke of Norfolk. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



street, Grosvenor square, London, May 23, 1782. 

Sixth, Lady Elizabeth Margaret, born August 
26, 1784. 

Seventh, Lady Arabella, born April 2, 1787. 

His Lordship on April 6, 1782, was appointed 
captain of the honorable band of gentlemen pen- 
sioners to his Majesty, and on the 24th of the 
same month sworn a member of his Majesty's 
most honorable privy council ; but resigned his 
command of the band of gentlemen pensioners on 
April 6, 1783, to \j'hich he was re-appointed on 
December 31st, foltowing, and which he held till 
December, 1790; was elected president of the So- 
ciety of Antiquaries on April 23, 1784; and on 
May 18th following, was advanced to the Earldom 
of Leicester, in consideration of his being de- 
scended from the heirs female of both the Saxon 
and Norman Earls of that county. Li 1794 he 
was appointed joint post master general, which 
he held till 1798; and in 1799 was constituted 
lord steward of the household, which he retained 
till 1802. 

The Marquis died July 27, 181 1, and was suc- 
ceeded by his eldest son, George Ferrars, 3d Mar- 
quis, born Dec. 13, 1778; who married May 12, 
1807, Sarah, daughter of the late William Dunn 
Gardner, Esq., but by her had no issue. He died 
Dec. 31, 1855, and was succeeded in the mar- 
quisate by his cousin, John Townshend, Esq., an 
admiral in the Royal Navy and member of Par- 
liament for Tamworth, (of whom presently) but 
the earldom of Leicester became extinct, and the 
baronies of Ferrars, of Chartley, and of Compton, 
fell into abeyance between the present Marmion- 
Edward Ferrars, Esq., of Baddesley Clinton, 
County Warwick, and Lady Elizabeth-Margaret 
Boultbee. 

His Lordship John, fourth Marquis, was bom 
March 28, 1798, and succeeded his cousin George- 
Ferrars, third Marquis, Dec. 31, 1855, and died 
Sept. 10, 1863, at Raynham, aged 66. In politics 
the noble Marquis was a Whig of a decided 
stamp, and he was a warm supporter of Polish 
independence. He was for many years a colleage 
of Sir Robert Peel. He married Aug. 18, 1825, 
Elizabeth Jane, eldest daughter of the late Rear 
Admiral Lord George Stuart, son of the Marquis 
of Bute and grandson of the Earl of Bute, 
Premier of George HL This truly noble lady was 
endowed with many rare accomplishments well 
befitting one of her high rank and station ; highly 
educated, courtly, agreeable and entertaining, of a 
kindly disposition and pleasing manners, always 
showing natural interest for those around her she 
won for herself the love and admiration of all, 
whether the lowly tenant on the estates or royalty 
that found it a privilege to be her guest. Her 
ladyship departed this life at her late residence, 
Queen Anne street. Cavendish square, London, 
Jan. 27, 1877. Issue: 

i. Lady Anne Maria, b. Dec. 6, 1826; m. 

Feb. 9, 1854, Capt. A. N. Sherson, 

R. N. 
ii. John Villiers Stuart, present and fifth 

Marquis, of whom presently. 



iii. James Dudley Rromlow Stuart, R. N., 

b. Dec. 14, 1832; d. Aug. 11, 1846. 
iv. Lady Elizabeth Clementina, b. July 26, 
1834; ni. July IS, 1856, Sir John St. 
Aubyn, Bart., M. P., of St. Michael's 
Mount, Cornwall. 
V. George Harrison Stuart, b. Feb. 3, 1838; 
d. April 13, 1840. 
Lady Audrey Jane Charlotte, b. Nov. 10, 1844; 
m. first Sept. 18, 1873, Hon. Greville Theophelus 
Howard, (son of the late Earl of Suffolk and 
Berkshire) of Castle Rising, County Norfolk, 
and had issue two sons and one daughter. 
The eldest son died in India. 
After the death of her first husband. Lady 
Audrey m. second General, the Right Honorable 
Sir Rcdvers Buller, one of England's most dis- 
tinguished soldiers. General Buller was born at 
Crediton in 1839, being of distinguished family. 
His father was a member of Parliament for North 
Devon and his mother was a niece of the twelfth 
Duke of Norfolk. General Buller entered the 
Army as ensign in the King's Own Rifles, and 
upon his death. Tuesday, June 2, 1908, the press 
of the civilized world published eulogies over 
this hero, the New York Herald stating, "By the 
death of Sir Redvers Buller, England loses one 
of her soldiers who for nearly half a century has 
been a conspicuous figure for bravery, iron nerve, 
and military skill." 

His Lordship's father. Lord John Townshend, 
second son of the first Marquis, had also, 

2. Lord George-Osborne, in holy orders ; b. 
Nov. 13, 1801 ; d. Sept. 7, 1876; educated at Eton 
and at King's College, Cambridge (B.A., Fellow 
of his college, 1827, M.A., 1826) ; married in 1839, 
Jessie Victoria, second daughter of Vice-Admiral 
John MacKellar, and has issue, 

1. Charles Thornton, b. Jan. 29, 1840; m. 

July 2, 1859, Louise, eldest daugh- 
ter of the late John Graham, and 
has issue 

1. Charles- Vere Ferrar, b. Feb, 1861 ; 

2. George Augustus, b. Nov. I, 1865. 

2. George-Ferrars, b. 1854. 

3. Augusta-Mary, b. 1845 ; m. Aug. 16, 1865, 

George Brooks Meares, Esq., Capt. 
7th Fusillecrs, of Dol-Llys Hall, 
Montgomeryshire. 

1. Earnest, b. 'March 4, 1858; 

2. Henry, b. Aug. 18, 1859. 

1. Lady Audrey-Harriet, b. Feb. i, 1788; mar- 
ried Oct., 1826, to the Rev. Robert Ridsdale, M.A., 
prebendary of Chichester; d. May 21, 1876. 

2. Lady Elizabeth-Frances, b. Aug. 2, 1789; d. 
April 10, 1862 ; m. Oct. 20, 1813, to Admiral Sir 
Augustus William James Clift'ord, Bart., R. N., 
C. B., gentleman usher of the black rod. He died 
Feb. 8, 1877, at his official residence, the Palace 
of Westminster. He was born May 24, 1788. He 
entered the Navy as far back as May, i8o8, his 
patron being Earl Spencer, then first Lord of the 
Admiralty, on board the Ville de Paris, no, the 
flagship of Earl St. Vincent and Admiral Hon. 
Sir William Cornwallis. He served under Ad- 
miral Sir John T. Duckworth and other dis- 



21 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



tinguished Naval commanders of that period, and 
saw some severe service, particularly off the coast 
of Egypt in 1800, when he served in the boats 
under Lieutenant Taillour against some French 
vessels defended by strong batteries in the Bay 
of Rosas. Afterwards he was appointed to com- 
mand the Cephalus, sloop, 18 guns, in which ves- 
sel he contributed to the destruction of ten armed 
feluccas on the beach near Cetraro, in the Gulf 
of Policastro. He was subsequently actively em- 
ployed on the Italian coast, and had some severe 
fighting with the enemy, until he obtained his 
post rank in July, 1812, during which period he 
rendered many important services. He returned 
to England with despatches from Lord William 
Bentinck. He subsequently was appointed to the 
Bonne Citoyenne and Euryalus, in which vessel 
he escorted his Excellency Sir W. R. Hamilton, 
the British Ambassador to Naples. In May, 1826, 
he was appointed to the command of the Herald 
yacht to attend the late Duke of Devonshire on 
his Extraordinary Embassy to Russia. For some 
time, as Captain Clifford, he was employed in 
attendance on the Lord High Admiral William 
IV, and in 1828 took out his friend Lord William 
Bentinck as Governor-General to India. That 
was his last service afloat, as he had not been 
actively employed since 1831. For a short time 
Sir Augustus sat in Parliament as representative 
for Bandon-bridge in 1818, for Dungarvan in 
1820, and again for Bandon-bridge in 1831. In 
July, 1832, he was appointed Gentleman Usher of 
the Black Rod in the room of Sir Thomas Tyr- 
whitt, to which he was nominated by the late 
Duke of Devonshire, Lord Chamberlain, an office 
which he has held ever since. The late Sir Au- 
gustus was created a Baronet in 1838, He mar- 
ried Oct. 20, 1813, Lady Elizabeth Frances Towns- 
hend, sister of John, fourth Marquis Townshend, 
and by her, who died April 10, 1862, he leaves 
surviving issue his successor. Admiral Sir W. J. 
Cavendish Clifford, C. B. ; Col. Robert Cavendish 
Spencer Clifford, late of the Grenadier Guards, 
Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod ; Mr. Charles 
Clifford, formerly private secretary to Viscount 
Palmerston, M. P., for Newport, Isle of Wight ; 
and two unmarried daughters. The late Sir 
Augustus, during his services as Usher of the 
Black Rod, has occasionally discharged the duties 
of Lord Great Oiamberlain during the absence 
of the late Lord Willoughby from England. He 
was the senior flag officer on the Retired List, his 
commission as Captain dating from July 28, 1812; 
Rear- Admiral, March 23, 1848; Vice-Admiral, 
September 27, 1855 ; and Admiral, November 7, 
1860.1 

3. Lady Jane, married Nov. 6, 1824, John 
Hildyard, Esq., barrister at law, who died Feb. 
13. i8SS- Her ladyship died at Hampton Court, 
1879. Frederick-Patrick, in holy orders; bom 
Dec. 30, 1767, died Jan. 18. 1836. 

4. Isabella Georgina, b. Feb. i, 1791 ; d. Sept. 
17, 1811. Charles Fox, b. June 28, 1795; d. April 
2, 1817. Anne. b. Aug. 31, 1796; d. July 30, 1822. 

John-Villiers-Stuart Townshend, Marquis and 
iVisrount Townshend, of Raynham, County Nor- 



folk, Baron Townshend of Lynn, and a baronet, 
b. April 10, 1831, succeeded Sept. 10, 1863. Mar- 
ried Oct. 17, 1865, the Lady Anne-Elizabeth- 
Clementina Duff, eldest daughter of the Earle of 
Fife and has issue, 

Lord John James Dudley-Stuart, Viscount 
Raynham, b. Oct. 17, 1866. Heir ap- 
parent. 
Lady Agnes Townshend. 

John James Dudley Stuart Townshend bears 
the hereditary titles of baronet, bestowed in 1617; 
baron, bestowed in 1661 ; Viscount, bestowed in 
1682 and Oct. 27, 1797. George, the fourth Vis- 
count, at whose birth King George I acted as 
one of his sponsors, was created (first) Marquis 
Townshend. John James Dudley Stuart is the 
sixth Marquis of the name and third in point of 
preference in the role of Marquises in the English 
peerage. 

He succeeded his father, and in August, 190S, 
married Gladys, daughter of Thomas Sutherst. 

Should Lord Townshend die without issue, the 
heir apparent to the Marquisate is his cousin 

Charles Townshend, who is married to , 

a lady of great wealth. 

At the coronation of King Edward VII, Mar- 
quis Townshend wore black velvet clothes, the 
cloak, crimson velvet bordered with ermine. 

Edgar Townshend, of the Shropshire branch 
a lineal descendant of Sir Robert, 2d son, ol 
Ludlow, Kt., Chief Justice of Chester 

Mr. Townshend's great-grandfather, grand- 
father and father were all in the Excise, his 
father reaching the post of "Chief Inspector of 
Excise at Somerset House," but the slowness of 
ascent determined him to place his sons in trade. 

His eldest brother a retired shipbuilder, he is 
an Iron Merchant and his youngest brother a 
professor of music. He is married, has issue, 
and lives at "Avoca" Mulgrave Road, Sutton, 
Surrey, England. 

[From the Lynn Advertiser, and Norfolk & 
Cambridgeshire Herald, September 27, 1873.] 

THE MARRIAGE OF LADY AUDREY 

TOWNSHEND 

AT RAYNHAM HALL. 

In the account of this auspicious event which 
appeared in our last publication, and which was 
copied from a contemporary journal, there were 
several inaccuracies. We therefore insert the 
following corrected report, with which we have 
been specially supplied : — 

The morning of Thursday, the i8th inst., was 
ushered in at Raynham by merry peals upon the 
church bells, it being the day appointed for the 
nuptials of Lady Audrey Townshend, (youngest 
daughter of the late Marquis Townshend and the 
Dowager Marchioness, and sister to the present 
Marquis), with the Hon. Greville Theophilus 
Howard, second son of the Earl of Suffolk and 
Berkshire. The hour of 11.30 was appointed for 
the interesting ceremony, but long before that 
time every seat in the church was filled (except 



22 




JOHN \I1.I.IERS SXrAKT. 

Fifth Marquis and \'iscount Townslicnd of Rayn- 
ham, County Norfolk, of Tamworth Castle, Warwick- 
shire, and I'.aron Townshcnd uf Lynn, England. 



I..\1)V AXNIvIil.IZ.MiKTII CI.ICMKNTINE IJUf-p 

Eldest daughter of tlie Earl of Fife and stii Mar- 
cliioness Townshend of Raynliam, County Norfolk, 
England. 



LORD JOHN JAMES DUDLEY STUART. 

Si.xth Marquis and Viscount Townshend of Rayn- 
ham. County Norfolk, of Tamworth Castle, Warwick- 
shire, and Baron Townshend of Lynn, England. 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



the space reserved for the wedding party and the 
guests at the hall), and every available "coigne of 
vantage was occupied by expectant sightseers. 
Shortly before the appointed time tlie bridegroom 
entered the church, accompanied by his best man, 
W. H. Willatt, Esq. The bridesmaids soon after 
entered, and their entrance attracted inuch atten- 
tion. They were eight in number, as follows : — 
The Lady Victoria Howard, tlie Hon, Mariquita 
Milles, Miss Ogilvy (cousin of the bridegroom), 
the Misses Lily, Audrey and Evelyn St. Aubyii 
(nieces of the bride). Miss Stuart (cousin of the 
bride) and Miss Osborne. They were dressed in 
light blue silk, with garniture of Grenat velvet, 
with bonnets to match, and they had been pre- 
sented by the bridegroom with beautiful silver 
bracelets and lockets, with the bride's and bride- 
groom's monogram upon them. But now every 
eye was turned to the north door, where the bride 
entered, leaning upon the arm of her cousin, the 
Marquis of Bute. She was elegantly attired in 
a magnificent white satin dress, with rich garni- 
ture and flounces of Brussels lace, and wearing a 
splendid Brussels lace veil, with wreath of orange 
flowers and myrtle. Her ornaments were diamond 
necklace and earrings, and gold and turquoise 
bracelets, the gift of their Royal Highnesses the 
Prince and Princess of Wales. Attended by her 
bridesmaids, she advanced to the altar, where the 
bridegroom awaited, and the marriage ceremony 
was at once commenced by the Rev. Mr. Mc- 
Knight, chaplain to the Earl of Suffolk, assisted 
by the Rev, R. Pliayre, rector of the parish. The 
service being concluded, the bride and bridegroom 
led the way down the church, the path through 
the churchyard being strewn with flowers by the 
children of the village school. Amongst the 
guests staying at the hall and who were present 
at the ceremony were : the Marquis and Mar- 
chioness of Bute, the Earl and Countess of Suf- 
folk, the Lady Victoria Howard, Sir John and 
Lady Elizabeth St, Aubyn, Admiral Clifford, Sir 
John Metcalfe, Mr. and Mrs, Ridley Smith, the 
Misses Ogilvy, Mr, and Miss Osborne, the Rev. 
Mr. McKnight, Mr. Willatts. Mr. Willington, 
Mr. J. W. Stuart, &c., &c. The wedding break- 
fast, which was of the most recherche description, 
was served in the Marble Hall, and amongst the 
gentry of the neighbourhood invited to the wed- 
din.g we observed the Hon. and Rev. Kenelm 
Digby, Sir \V. and Lady Jones, Lord Hastings, 
the Rev. G., Mrs., Miss Audrey and Miss Cecil 
Ridsdale, .Sir W, Ffolkes, Mr. Somerville Gumey, 
Mr. L and j^lrs. Everitt, Air. and Mrs. Franks, 
Mr. R. N. Hamond, the Hon. Mrs. Phayre, the 
Misses Troubridge, Maior and Mrs. Hollway, 
Mr. Coldham, the Rev. J. G, Handford. the Rev. 
W. Barlow, the Rev. E. W.. Mrs. and Miss Dow- 
ell, Rev, E, H., Mrs. and Miss Morton, Rev, A. 
and Miss Noel, Miss Hoste, Rev. M. A. and Mrs. 
Atkinson, Mr. W. E. and Mrs. Elwes. the Rev. 
W. and Mrs. Hoare, the Rev. H. and Mrs. Jones, 
the Rev. A. J., Mrs. and Miss Johnson, and many 
others. One was reminded of those scenes which 
are the delight of painters, .\long the spacious 
.wood bordered walk, adorned with garlanded 



masts, the visitors had assembled in picturesque 
groups, while further on, upun the lawn, were the 
West Norfolk pack hounds with the huntsman, 
and whips in their scarlet jackets, that attended 
out of compliment to the bride, who has followed 
them many a time across the country. All the 
tenants on the estates had the honour of being in- 
vited to breakfast, which was served in the outer 
court, and the principal tradesmen of Fakenham 
and Raynham had luncheon in the Audit-room, 
The total number who were feasted was upwards 
of 300. The church was tastefully decorated, and 
two pretty triumphal arches had been erected 
across the road leading to the village, and from 
the Marble hall door to the church gate numerous 
flags, banners and Venetian masts had been 
erected, A large number of the members of the 
"Raynham Provident Benefit Society," wearing 
their club bows and wedding favours, and having 
their beautiful silk banner, presented to the club 
by the Dowager Marchioness, were ranged on 
each side of the churchyard walk, and their ap- 
pearance formed a pleasing feature in the day's 
proceedings. They were afterwards supplied with 
refreshments in their club-room. 

After breakfast, the newly-w-edded pair drove 
away from the Marble hall door to Castle Rising 
in a carriage drawn by four grey horses, the bride 
wearing a dark blue velvet dress with polonaise 
richly trimmed with fringe and lace, and bonnet 
to match, A numerous company, with the mem- 
bers of the club, were formed near the gate, and 
greeted them with the heartiest clieering as thev 
drove off. The bride has much endeared herself 
to all classes on the estate, especially to her 
poorer neighbours, by whom she will be much 
missed. The presents of the bride were very 
numerous and costly, including a handsome brace- 
let from their Royal Highnesses the Prince and 
Princess of Wales, a silver salver from the ten- 
antry, a silver eggstand from the commercial in- 
habitants of Fakenham, silver inkstand from the 
cottagers of East, West and South Raynham 
and Helhoughton, silver cruet stand from the 
gardeners and gamekeepers on the estate, hand- 
some cut glass flower stand and candlesticks from 
the carpenters, &c. 

On the previous Thursday, the carpenters, 
bricklayers, gamekeepers and labourers employed 
on the estate, with their wives, to the number of 
74, were invited to a substantial dinner of roast 
beef, mutton, plum-puddin.g, &c., with ale ad 
libitum, which was served in the Audit-room, and 
to which they did ample justice. The health of 
the Marquis Townshend, The Dowager Marchion- 
ess Townshend and the Lady Audrey Towns- 
hend was received with im?nense cheering. The 
school children were also invited on the same 
day to tea. After spending the afternoon in 
various sports on the bowling green, at five o'clock 
they sat down to the good things provided for 
them. Having enjoyed these to their hearts' 
content, they again returned to their sports, and 
as it became dark two balloons were successfully 
sent off to the delight of old and young. Each 
child on leaving received a bun, sweets, nuts, &c,. 



23 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



.and then departed to their homes with grateful 
feelings for their liberal entertainment. The aged 
and infirm were supplied with tea, sugar and wine 
at their own homes. The wedding presents were 
displayed in the library, and everyone had the 
privilege of seeing them. 

As the history of the chief branch of this fam- 
ily has been written several times within the past 
century, we did not continue it further, in a 
previous edition, than Sir Roger Townshend, who 
was knighted for meritorious ser\'ices during the 
several engagements with the Spanish Armada in 
1588, but since then much valu.ible family history 
has been extracted from the records, and as fre- 
quent requests have been made to continue the 
English family down to the present day, the 
compiler, after consultation with the Marquis 
Townshend and others, has decided to do so in 
this edition, and as the different modes of spell- 
ing the name have been noticed, it will be proper 
to again make mention of it here. The first part, 
Atte. seems to have been dropped during the 14th 
century, and from this time down to the dawn of 
Puritanism as many as twelve different ways of 
spelling the name have been found. Thus : Town- 
send, Tounneyshende, Towneshende, Towen- 
shende, etc. About A. D. 1500, we learn it be- 
came fashionable to cut down still more; so 
Towneshende was abridged by dropping the e in 
the first, and the /; and e in the last syllables, 
which abridged form seems at this time to have 
been generally adopted by the different branches 
of the family; but soon after the year 1580, the 
chief family at Raynham. finding that this mode 
gave a wrong signification to their name, as they 
were the land-holders, stadt or town-holders of 
that section of the country, they again used the 
/( in the last syllable, considering it more correct. 

Burke says, in his "Landed Gentry," that pre- 
vious to the ennobling "of the Norfolk family, 
we find the name as frequently spelt without the 
h as with, and according to Blomfield, the or- 
thography of the old Townshend Monuments at 
Ryndham is similar. Spelling, however, in those 
days, was not considered a matter of much im- 
portance, and it seems not improbable that 
Townshend is the most correct, "hend" being 
derived from hand (Saxon "henden"), or the 
Latin root hendcre, only used in composition, to 
take, to hold, to occupy." 

Having enlarged on the orthography of this 
ancient family name, we turn our attention to 
the line of Robert Townshend, 2nd son of Sir 
Roger, by wife Anne de Brewse, who married 
Alice, daughter and one of the heirs of Robert 
Poppy, Esq., of Twyford, County Norfolk. This 
Robert, in his father's will, is called Sir Robert 
Townshend. Kt.. and he bequeaths him his 
"Cheyne of Gold." Sir Robert was of the Society 
of Lincoln's Inn in the early part of the reign of 
King Henry VIH, becoming as eminent as his 
ancestor in the study of Law, and with his father 
attended the Duke of Norfolk at the reception of 
Lady Anne, daughter of John, Duke of Cleves, 
who married King Henry VIH, Jan. i, 1539. He 
was afterward made king's Sergeant-at-law, 1541, 



and knighted by Henry Vlll, at Hampton Court, 
on Trinity Sunday, 1545. and the same year made 
Lord Chief Justice of Chester, in which post he 
was continued by both King Edward VI and 
Queen Mary. He deceased on Feb. 8, 1555-6, 
possessed of the manor and rectory of Twyford 
and Gayst, an advowson of the vicarages of the 
churches, the Manors of Swanton. Foxley, and 
Southwell in Norfolk, and the priory and house 
of St. Augustine in Ludlow, Salop. Sir Robert 
was buried in the high chancel of Ludlow church, 
in an altar tomb, which is a remarkable example 
of an early and very rich classic monument of 
the time. On the top of it, cut in marble, are 
the full-length recumbent figures of himself 
dressed in full armor, and his lady in the costume 
of her day, while figures of his children surround 
the base of the tomb. Over the monument, built 
in the solid masonry of the chancel, is a beautiful 
Gothic arch, and the family crest, a buck trippant, 
crowns the whole fabric, which is decorated with 
escalop shells and other insignia of the family; 
above the monument on the walls are the Town- 
send arms, quartered with the de Hautevillc, de 
Brewse, Gift'ord, Lunsford, Schardlow, Carbonnel, 
Curson, Poppy and others; and beneath the 
beautiful Gothic window, of stained glass, is this 
inscription; "Memento Mori Respice Finam," 
A. D. 1581, and around tlie coping of the top of 
the tomb: "Here lyelh the body of Sir Robert 
Towneshende, Knight, Chief Justice of the Coun- 
cill in the Marches of Wales & Chester and Dame 
Alice, his wife, daughter and one of the heirs of 
Robert Poppy, Esq.. who had between them 12 
children, 6 sons, and 6 daughters lawfully be- 
gotten." On the paneling of the monument are 
the names of his children, but time has obliterated 
most of them. The names, however, of Thomas, 
Robert, Isaac and Henry are still visible. This 
Sir Robert Townshend died at Salop. Feb. 8, 1556, 
and from an inquisition taken at Norwich. Nor- 
folk, Apr. 26, 1555, and at Salop, nth of Aug, 
following, Thomas Townsend of Bracon-Ash, 
Norfolk, Esq., was found to be his heir, who was 
at that time "22 years of age and more," and was 
seized of the Manors of Sutton, Swanton and 
Folsham, in Folsham, with Foxley Manor in 
Twyford, which came to him, by Alice his mother, 
daughter and heir of Robert Poppy, Esq. 

Sir Robert Tounshend had by the Lady Alice : 
i. Thomas, b. . . bur. at Bracon-Ash, 

Norfolk, June 12, 1591. 
ii. Robert, b. . . bur. at Ludlow Salop, 
Aug. 28, 1614, mar. Anne Machell, 
Apr. 30, 1571, at St. Mary's, Alder- 
mary, London. 

iii. Isaac, b. . . . bur. He living April, 
1552. under 18, perhaps from him 
Sir Isaac T., Com'nr for R. N., will 
proved June 3, 1721, and his nephew, 
Adm'l Isaac T., Gov. Greenwich 
Hos'pt. 

iv. Sir Henry, b. . . bur. at Conde Salop, 
Dec. . . 1621, "reckoned himself 
aged 84." By first wife, daughter of 



24 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Sir Rowland Hayward, Lord Mayor 
of London, he had with other issue, 
Hayward T., Member Parliament, 
and Mary T.. wife of Sir Philip 
Cromwell, uncle of the "Protector," 
Oliver Cromwell. By 2d wife, Dor- 
othy Heveningham, he had Henry T., 
son and heir, who, by ist wife Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Sir John Acton, 
Kt., and 2d wife, Dorothy, who was 
buried at Elmley Lovet, County Wor- 
cester. July IS, 163s. and daughter of 
Henry Bright, was the ancestor of 
the Townshends of Worcestershire. 
V. Thomasine, b. . . mar. 1st, to William 
Curson, of Beckhall, Norfolk, and 
secondly, to William Rugge, of 
Felmingham. Esq. 
vi. Anne, b. . . Raffe Dutton, Esq. 
vii. . . b. . . Richard Smythe, Esq. 
viii. Bridget, b. . . Henry Acton, 3d son of 
Robert. 
ix. Grace, b. . . Ambrose Gilbert. 
X. Alice, b. . . Humphrey Archer, of 
L'mberslade, County Warwick. He 
died, Oct. 24, 4 Queen Elizabeth (A. 
D. 1562). She died, Nov. 28, 5 King 
James I (A. D. 1607). She having 
married, secondly, Edward Coles, 
Esq. 
Thomas Townsend, Esq., eldest son of Sir 
Robert, in 1558 presented the advowson of the 
church of Twyford. and in 1568, he passed his 
Manor to Rowland Hayward. He was married at 
Beckcnham. Kent, June 27, 1558, to his first wife, 
the Lady Elizabeth Styles, daughter of George 
Periente, Gentleman, of Digswell, County Hert- 
ford [who died at Lavenham, County Suffolk, 
will proved A. D. 1532. He was brother to Sir 
John Periente, and descended from John Periente, 
of Digswell, Esq., and wife Joan, daughter of 
Thomas Mansfeld,! "a man of great name under 
King Henry IV, who married Matilda de Etton, 
of noble race in County York" (Harl. MS. 6147, 
fol. 50-51), and widow of Sir Humphrey Styles, 
of Langley. Sheriff of Kent, 1543. and one of the 
Esquires of King Henry VIIL He was after- 
wards Lord of the Manors of Hethill, Pennes, 
Standfield Hall, Carlton Curson, Carlton Peveral, 
and held interest in other manors, and the ad- 
vowson of the church of Bracon-Ash. He ac- 
knowledged the receipt of the Herring Pyes of 
the Sheriff of Norwich, Sept. 4, 1576, and the 
year following Hcthill-Green was divided between 
him and the city. On Aug. 16, 1578, he and his 
lady entertained Queen Elizabeth at Bracon-Ash 
Hall, where she dined while on her progress 
through Norfolk to Norwich, and had it not 
been for this family's Popish proclivities he would 
probably have been knighted, as Her Majesty 
conferred that honor on several of his neighbors. 
By this lady he had several children, but all died 
young except Henry, who was baptized at Bracon- 

1 The Mansfield family of Mansfleld-End. Lynn. 
Mars., kinsmen and ne.\t nelghbor.s of Thomas Town- 
fiend, may have descended from him. 



Ash "ye last of May, 1568." The lady Elizabeth 
Styles was buried June 30, 1580. 
They had : 

i. Roger, bapt. July 5, 1563 ; bur. Jan. 22, 

1573- 
ii. Thomas, bapt. Sept. 25, 1566; bur. Jan. 

2, 1566-7, O. S. 
iii. Henry, bapt. "ye last of May, 1568," son 
and heir. 

Thomas Townsend married for second wife, 
1581-2. Anne, daughter of Henry D'Oyly, Esq., 
of Pond-Hall, Hadleigh, County Suffolk, and of 
Shottisham, Norwich, County Norfolk. By this 
lady, who was many years his junior, he had sev- 
eral children, and all died young except Alice, 
baptized May 12, 1583, and Mary, baptized Nov. 
17, 1586, living unmarried in 1624. In 1585 his 
father-in-law, Henry D'Oyly, levied a fine of 
Pond-Hall. Suffolk, and Shottisham, Norfolk, and 
all others of his estate to him in trust, for the 
benefit of his D'Oyly children. He is often 
spoken of in connection with his own and the 
D'Oyly estates, and seems to have been quite a 
man of business, leading the life of a country 
esquire. 

His daughter Alice married Ambrose Clyve, 
Esq., of Styche, in Shropshire, and by him was 
progenitrix of the Lord Clive and the Earl Powis. 
He died at Bracon-Ash, and was buried June 12, 
1591, and by a special livery, dated Westminster, 
Nov. 25. of the same year, Henry Townsend, 
Esq., at that time 23 years of age, was proved his 
son and heir. After the decease of Thomas 
Townsend, his wife Anne D'Oyly married a Mr. 
Wilmott, of Staffordshire. She survived him 
also, and wedded, thirdly, in or before 1597, 
Sir Robert Needham, of Shenton, County Salop, 
Kt., who in 1625 was created Viscount Kilmorey 
in the Kingdom of Ireland. 

Henry Townsend, Esq., son of the aforesaid 
Thomas by first wife. Elizabeth Periente (Lady 
Stj'les). who had sister Katherine, married, first, 
to Sir Humphrey Drewell, of County Hunts. Kt., 
second, to John Bacon, of Hesset and Troston, 
County Suffolk, Esq., whose son, Capt. Robert 
Bacon, married Lady Cordelia, daughter of John 
Gyll or Gill, and widow of Sir Thomas Harris, 
Kt. John Bacon _ died Jan. 3, 1566. and she 
(Katherine) married, third. John Spring, of 
County Norfolk. Also a sister, Mary Periente, 
second wife of William Clopton, son of John 
Clopton, and grandson of Sir William Clopton, 
of Kentwell and long Melford. County Suffolk, 
by his first wife. Joan, daughter of William 
Marrow, of London, who had sons George, 
Thomas and Tozvnscnd Clnpton. Thomas Clop- 
ton, son and heir of the aforesaid William Clop- 
ton, by wife Mary Waldcgrave, had Sir William 
Clopton. who by wife Anne, daughter of Sir 
Thomas Barnardiston, was father of Anne Clop- 
ton, sole heir to the knightly family of Clopton, 
of Kentwell Hall. County Suffolk, and wife of 
Sir Symond D'Ewes. Bart. This (Mary Peri- 
ente) married, second. George Barnardiston, of 
Korthill. County Bedford, Esq., and had issue 
Robert Barnardiston, son and heir. 



25 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



The aforesaid Sir William Clopton, by second 
■wife, Thomasine, eldest daughter of Thomas 
Knevets, was father of Richard Clopton, of Gro- 
ton, County Suffolk, whose son, William Clopton, 
by wife Margery, daughter of Edmund Walde- 
grave, was the father of William Clopton, who 
married Alice, the daughter of Edmund D'Oyly, 
brother of Anne D'Oyly, second wife of Thomas 
Townsend, Esq., father of the said Henry Town- 
send, who. by first wife, Margaret Forthe, daugh- 
ter of Robert Forthe, was cousin of Mary Forthe, 
'first wife of John Winthrop, Esq., Governor of 
New England, who married for his second wife 
Thomasine Clopton, sister of the aforesaid Will- 
iam Clopton, of Groton. 

Henry Townsend, "Gentleman," and Margaret 
Forthe, "Gentlewoman," were married at St. 
John Zacharies, London, by Rev. Ambrose Gold- 
en, minister, Nov. 5, 1590; and the said Margaret 
was buried at Bracon-Ash, June 23, 1596. 

They had : 
i. Robert, bapt. June 8, 1591 (old style), 
ii. Arthur, bapt. Nov. 16, 1593, who died 
young. 

iii. Thomas, bapt. Jan. 8, 1594-5. 

iv. Elizabeth. 

By his second wife, Anne, daughter and one 
of the heirs of Berthram Calthorpe, Counselor of 
the Middle Temple, London, and of Antringham 
and Ormsby, County Norfolk, he had. it is sup- 
posed, no issue, as his will, which is quite lengthy, 
speaks of none by her, and it gives an outline 
history of the past twenty-five years of his life, 
a portion of which he appears to have spent at 
Gcdding near Edwardston and Groton, County 
Suffolk. Family tradition informs us. and we 
have sufficient evidence from this will and other- 
wise to prove, that the estates of Henry Town- 
send were encumbered before the death of his 
father, and he sold Bracon-Ash to Sir Edmund 
Riche in 1599. In this will, dated Sept. 10. 1624, 
and proved Norwich, Norfolk, Aug. 29. 1625, he 
appoints his well-beloved William Payne, of Now- 
ton. County Suffolk, Gentleman, his executor, 
and leaves his now wife Anne an annual annuity 
of ^40 lawful money towards her maintenance 
during her life. 

To son Robert £400, to be paid him by sums of 
£100 a year; to his other son, Thomas. £300, to 
be paid him in sums of £50 a year; and to his 
daughter Elizabeth £300, to be paid in sums of 
£50 a year. He leaves numerous bequests to 
others, and the residue of all his goods, chattels, 
ready money, and debts of whatever kind and 
nature they be. he wholly and freely gives to his 
executor towards his charges, and for bringing 
his body decently to the earth. This Henry 
Townsend or Townshend, for we find his name 
spelled in both ways, was buried at Gedding, 
County Suffolk, Aug. 22, 1625, and the original 
copy of his will was delivered to his executor, 
Aug. s, 1626. 

His third son, Thomas, was born at Bracon- 
Ash, and after the sale of the Norfolk estates 
he resided at Gedding, County Suffolk, until his 
majority, when he moved to the neighborhood 



of London, where his uncle, Thomas Forthe, 
Esq. (of the Middle Temple, London, Jan. 10,^ 
1590), resided, who was son and heir of Robert 
Forthe, D.C.L.. LL.D., deceased, whose funeral 
was solemnized at St. Gregory's church, near St. 
Paul's, with heraldic ceremonies, Oct. 13. 1595, 
he having died the 3d of the same, seized of 
landed estates in Suffolk, Essex, Kent and Lon- 
don, also the Manors of Levehurst in Lambert 
and of Palmer alias Tylehurst in Croyden, both 
near Southwark, County Surry. Tradition and 
family records inform us that Mr. Thomas Town- 
send came from London and settled at Lynn, in- 
the colony of Massachusetts Bay, about 1637-8; 
and as John Winthrop, his connection, was gov- 
ernor of this colony, it is probable that his puri- 
tanical relations aided him to select a home in 
New England, whence many of his kinsmen and 
neighbors had emigrated a few years before. His 
wife was Mary, probably a sister of Anne.l wife 
of John Newgate or Newdigate. a merchant and 
selectman of Boston, who had resided in South- 
wark, near London Bridge, and who in his will, 
dated May 8. 1665, calls him brothcr-in-laiv. and 
leaves him a legacy of £10, to be paid him within 
one year after his decease. 

I. Thomas Townsend was granted 60 acres of 
land with Lord Brook and others by the town 
of Lynn, in 1638. and he bought other lands near 
the iron-works and at Rumney Marsh, Chelsea. 
He is called in the records husbandman, which 
occupation many settlers of good families chose, 
and not being trades-people, the most consistent 
with their landed interests. His town-house and 
lot of 7 acres was on the south side of the Mill 
street near the Common, and on the present 
N. E. and S. E. corners of Franklyn and Mill 
(now Boston) street, and he gives son Andrew 
the southerly corner lot of two acres, provided he 
would take care of the affairs of himself and wife 
for life; and after their decease, he (Andrew) to 
have all remaining property. He also gave be- 
quest of lio to son Thomas and £5 to son Sam- 
uel. His son John he had given in 1669. for mar- 
riage portion, a farm of 60 acres, next Mr. Nicho- 
las Wylly. (formerly of Bury St. Edniund.=, 
County Suffolk,) which he had purchased of Ed- 
ward Hutchison that was formerly in the tenure 
of Mr. Edmund Needham of Lynn. This town 
plot, one of the best sites in Lynn and not far 
from the Rev. Samuel Whiting's residence 
(across the now Common), was next the Mans- 
field property, and was sold by his grandson 
Thomas, son of Andrew, to his kinsman, Daniel 
Mansfield, of Lynn. July 25, 1702. 

He was made a freeman March 14, 1639, calls 
himself husbandman in his well-drawn deeds of 
gift to his children, and from his serving the 
public on more than one occasion seemed to have 
been an important citizen, and from papers bear- 
ing his name, and his beautiful autograph, now to 



1 Her will witnessed at Boston. Aug. 6. 1676. by 
Penelope Bellingham and Anne Manning, and proved 
April 8. 1679. by Mrs. Penelope Bellingham and Anno " 
Gerrish. late Manning, and sealed with Gov. Belling- 
ham's arms. 



26 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



be seen in the Secretary of State's office in Bos- 
ton, we have sufficient evidence of his ability. He 
did not agree with the Salem and Lynn Puritans 
in their extreme measures, and with the Rev. 
Samuel Whitney was opposed to persecution. 
Was a liberal and in favor of his neighbor Ar- 
mitage keeping an inn. He died in Lynn, Dec. 
22, 1677, aged 83, and his wife Mary died at the 
■house of her son Andrew, Feb. 28, 1692. 
They had : — 

2. i. Thomas, born about 1637. 

3. ii. Samuel, b. in Lynn about 1638. 

4. iii. John, b. in Lynn about 1640. 

5. iv. Andrew, b. in Lynn about 1642. 

v. Elizabeth, b. ; m. Samuel Mariam 

of Lynn. Dec. 22, 1669. Probably 
other children. 

Essex Ins. Col. [Perhaps the follovying were 
children of Thomas Townsend]. Lydia Town- 
send married Lawrence Copeland, 9th, loth mo. 
1651, died Jan. 8, 1688. He died Dec. 30, 1699, 
was born in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. She 
was in 1650 a member of Mr. Ruck's family, next 
neighbor of Thomas Townsend. 

Essex Ins. Col., Vol. Ill, p. 235. Mary Town- 
send of family of Samuel Gardiner, deceased, 
1661. Robert Townsend of Portsmouth, in De- 
position taken 1668, aged i-- 

Essex Ins. Col., Vol. VIII, p. 127. Salem 20th 
Quarter Court, "ye 30th, ist mo., 1641." Thomas 
Towenshend as juryman appears on the record. 
y 2. Thomas {Thomas), born in England and 
came with his father to Lynn, where he lived 
and afterwards settled at Rumney Marsh, where 
he leased a farm of Thomas Mateson, who may 
have been connected with a family of that name 
living at Boxted, County Suffolk, England, of 
which Margaret Mateson married Walter Clopton, 
and John Mateson married Anne Clopton. These 
Cloptons had sister Bridget who married John 
Sampson, of Sampson Hall, Kersey, County Suf- 
folk, whose son Robert came over to New Eng- 
land in the ship Arabella with Gov. Winthrop, 
and is called by him cousin on account of his 
2d wife, Thomasine Clopton. He married Mary, 
daughter of Samuel Davis, was member of 2d 
church, Boston, Oct. 30, 1681, and freeman, 1683. 
He is left a legacy by his father, in deed of gift 
to his brother Andrew, Mar. 24, 1674-5, and his 
will was proved July i, 1700 : leaves wife his 
property, but if she marries again it goes to his 
children. Appoints his wife executrix. 

They had : — 

. i. Joseph, b. 23 loth mo., 1665. 
X ii. Thomas, b. Dec. 10, 1667. 
jii. Susannah, b. Nov. 5, 1672. 
iv. Joshua, ^ • i ^t ^ 

V. Caleb twms, b. Nov. 21, 1674. 

vi. Nathan, b. July 5, 1677. 
yii. Priscilla, b. Sept. 20. 1679. 
viii. Elisha, b. Sept. 9, 1680; d. Oct. I, 1693. 

ix. Benjamin, b. Jan. 10, 1682. 

x. Hezekiah, b. April 12, 1685. 

xi. Timothy, b. Apr. 25, 1688. 
xii. Josiah, b. May 8, 1690; d. Sept. 28, 1695. 
xiii. Thomas, b. Oct., 1692. 



3. Samuel (Thomas'^), born in Lynn, and set- 
tled at Winnisemet, or Chelsea, Mass., where he 
held several important offices and where he leased 
a farm of Gov. Richard Bellingham, who was 
connected by marriage with the Goodrick families 
of Counties York, Lincoln and Suffolk; as is 
proved by letters to the Governor still e.xtant in 
the Mass. Archives from his nephew and nieces, 
the children of Col. William Goodrick, of Kilby, 
(Skidby) County York. In these letters, dated 
York, 1662, and London, 1688-9, they mention 
much distress caused by the Cromwellian wars, 
and "the fatall distructcon of London by a most 
wonderful and dreadful fire." We also find en- 
rolled at London, Oct. 10, 1634, sale of property, 
&c., for £200 in Swinthrop and Froddingham, 
County Lincoln, by Richard Bellingham, Esq., 
and Elizabeth, his wife; they then of Bromby, in 
the same county, to William Goodrick, Esq., of 
Skidby, County York. This William Goodrick 
was no doubt the same as the Governor, brother- 
in-law and cousin of Lyonell and Richard Good- 
rick, who are called of County Lincoln, and 
brother-in-law of Henry Townsend, Esq., of 
Bracon-.Ash, Norfolk, and Gcdding, Suffolk. The 
last mentioned Richard Goodrick and Margeret 
his wife, sold 1602 to George Townsend, of Nar- 
ford and Cramworth, County Norfolk, Esq., and 
cousin of Henry Townsend aforesaid, the Manor 
of Waddingworth, County Lincoln, 

Samuel Townsend followed the vocation of a 
husbandman, and from ]\ISS. of the family letters 
and the records we know that he was a respec- 
table and prosperous man; he was made freeman 
in 1683, having joined the 2nd Church, Boston, 
Sept. 18. 1681. By wife Abigail, daughter of 
Samuel Davis, who leaves her a legacy, he has 
several children. He was Administrator for son 
Jeremiah's estate, Nov. 19, i6go, also of the estate 
of his brother Andrew Townsend of Lynn, which 
was inventoried March 10, 1692-3, and was ap- 
pointed guardian for his children, Abigail and 
David. He was constable and town surveyor, 
and is mentioned by Sewell in his diary, June 22, 
1688, as being of a party which went with Mr. 
Nathaniel Newdigate (grandson of John) to 
Hogg Island, regarding an agreement about 
marsh lands there. He lived and died at Win- 
nisemet, and from the inventory of the estate 



1 The Records of the Colony of Massarhusetts Bay. 
inform us that Gov. Bellingham. soon after his arrival. 
Tni;„ l\ Yf*.J>onf;ht of Mr. Samuel Maverick and 
John Blackleaeh the Manor of Winnisemet. They 
having received it probably under the Gorges' Patent 
wT2, ''v^.'"'';. ';•''<"■«■ and when Rumney Marsh was al- 
iRln II- H^ was recoenized. but not recorded until 
i„iW,„ *.';*''',?' '•'""'' ^<'<'™-"' to have been divided 

JSte, on/ t?,"^;; *"'' '="^"'^1' manner of dividing es- 
tetes and the Governor's will, dated Nov. 2.=; 1672 
mentions two farms at Winnisemet. occupied by lohn 
Belcher and Samuel Townsend [the latter son of 
Thomas Townsend. of Lynnl , the rents of which ha 

f,™V'°"/!''^„"^<' r'"^' of f""-- '3""Khters of Col Wi"- 
am Goodnclj, as long as they had urgent need Aeaia 
in Re^rds of Ma.s^ Col., Vol. VI.. p'' 142 dated .fune 

reneiope [Felham] Bellingham. w dow of the latn 
Hon. Gov Bellingham. Esq.. orders her to have thi 
"'"'J°\ '^f °f the farm now leased by Samuel -Town! 
la ?e|alr^'°'"'''°''' ^"^ ^o keep the h'^use and Incea 



27 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



proved at Boston, Jan. 9, 1705, and settled by the 
heirs, July 22, 1708, he seems to have had his 
efforts repaid with gain, as his ownership of 
property in Rumney Marsh, Charlestown and 
Boston proves. 

Want of space prevents a further recital of the 
Bellingham, Goodrick and Townsend connection; 
tradition having its strong support from numer- 
ous facts and circumstances, already and here- 
after to be shoci'n, makes firm the belief that the 
intimacy of these families, both in Old and New 
England, was due to other ties than those of 
friendship and fastens more firmly the traditional 
cord. 

Mr. Townsend died at Winnisemet, and in the 
old burying-ground at Rumney Marsh (now Re- 
vere) is to be seen his grave-stone, bearing date 
Dec. 21, 1704, aged about 66. His wife, Abigail 
Townsend, was buried in the Copp Hill Cemetery, 
Boston, and her stone there records her death, 
Jan. 2d, 1728-9, aged 87 years and eight months. 

They had, probably, the following issue, and as 
the records were imperfectly kept, we print ver- 
batim the first two entries : 

Samuel, son of Samuel Towne .... and 
Abigail his wife, b. July 12, 1661 ; m. ist, 
Elizabeth .... Mar. 15, 1693; d. 
Nov. 20, 1699; m. 2d, Elizabeth .... 
Apr, 7, 1701. He d. Nov. 18, 1723. aged 
61. 

Abigail, dau. of Samuel Towne .... and 
Abigail his wife, b. Sept. 3, 1662. 

Jeremiah, son of Samuel Townsend and Abigail 
his wife, b. . . . 1664, and d. Sept. 6, 
1690. 

David, son of Samuel Townsend and Abigail his 

wife, b Sept. 29, 1666. 

iv. Jonathan, b. Sept. 10, 1668; d. Apr. 11, 1717- 
8; m. Elizabeth Waltham, dau. of Samuel, 
son of Rev. William Waltham, of Marble 
Head, Mar. 22, 1695; d. Mar. 30, 1749, 
aged 83. Their eldest son. Rev. Jonathan 
Townsend, of Needham, a grad. of Harv. 
Coll. He married Mary, daughter of 
Capt. Gregory Sugars, principal com- 
mander of the Naval forces which went 
against Quebec in 1690. She died at 
Needham. Sept. 10, 1765, aged 75. He 
succeeded John, son of Rev. John Wil- 
son, of 1st Church, Boston, as clergyman 
at Needham. and d. 1762, and was father 
of the Rev. Jonathan Townsend, of Med- 
field, Mass. 
V. Anne, b. Jan. 30, 1672; prob. bur. at Copp 

Hill Cemetery, Nov. 11, 1717, aged 45. 
vi. Solomon, b. Aug. I. 1676; d. 17—; m. 1st 
wife, Elizabeth Jarvis, June 20, i6g8; m. 
2d wife, Esther Sugars, dau. of Capt. 
Gregory Sugars, of Boston. 
vii. Elias, b. Mar. 2, 1678; d. Nov. 1738; m. Re- 
becca, dau. of Samuel Frothingham, d. 
about 1738. 

viii. Isaac, b. May 20, 1682; d. Jan. 12. 1718; m. 
Anne Ranger, July 6, 1703; d. Nov. 8, 
1726, aged 50. 



ix. Abraham, twin brother of Isaac, b. May 20, 
1682; d. May 20. 1746; m. Mary Eustice, 
Nov. 30, 1708. She was b. May 4, 1682; 
d. Jan. 28, 1718. 
They had: — 

i. Abraham, d. at 3. 
ii. Nathan, b. 1711. 
iii. Joseph, 
iv. Isaac. 
v. Mary, b. 1715. 

vi, Abraham, b. 1717. He removed to Bidde- 
ford, Maine, m. 2d, Dec. 8, 1720, Judith 
Edgecombe, dau. Robert and Rachel 
Edgecombe. Settled at Saco, Maine; 
d. at Hollis, Maine, 1746. She d. Dec. 

3. 1773- 
They had : — 

i. Thomas, b. Oct. 29, 1722. 
ii. Samuel, b. Feb. 14, 1725. 
iii. James, b. July 31, 1730. 
There is some trace of Thomas, but little rec- 
ord of Samuel and James, the records of the 
Probate Court in Portland, Me., having been de- 
stroyed by fire. 

James Townsend, b. bwt. 1760-1770, it is con- 
cluded was son of James of Biddeford, who in all 
probability moved into Cumberland County, so 
left no trace in Biddeford or York County. He 
m. Abigail or Nabby Pittee, dau. of James Pittee, 
of North Yarmouth, 1794, and lived in Freeport, 
Maine. 
They had : — 

i. Sarah, b. Sep. 20, 1795. 
ii. Phoebe, b. April 25, 1797. 
iii. Charles, b. Oct. 27, 1799; d. 1827. 
iv. Benjamin. 
V. Eliza. 
vi. Hannah, 
vii. Jane. 
Charles, m. Rachel Whitmore, of Bowdoinham, 
b. 1801, d. 1896, in 1821. 
They had : — 

I. Stephen Whitmore, b. 1822; m, Brann. 

They had ; — 

i. Rachel, deceased, 
ii. Loella. 

iii. Cora, deceased, 
iv. Nellie, m. Chas. Case. 
V. Caroline, m. Charles Hanson. They had : 

Margaret, 
vi. Hattie. 

II. True Whitmore, b. July 10, 1824; m. Susan 
L, Colby, of Bangor, Maine; b, 1838; d. 1895. 

They had : — 

'• idwTrd'^PayS- '--' <^ ^-"«- 
ii. Tennie Colby, b. May 30, 1866; m. Will- 
iam H. Temple. They had : Walter 
Parker, Ethel Florence, Bertha Alice, 
Edward Townsend. 
iii. Edward Sands, b. Dec. 12, 1869, Chelsea, 
Mass. A.B. Harvard, 1892; LL.B,, 
1895 ; m, Georgia D. Sanborn, Feb. 17, 
1897, at Somerville, Mass. 
They had : — 

i. Charles Edward Sanborn, b. May 7, 1898. 



28 




KDWAKD SANDS TOWNSKMX 
r.i.^inn. Mnss. 



BENJAMIN TOWNSKND. 
New York City. 



KRAXK G. Cl'RTIS. 
Jamestown, N. Y. 



TOWNSEND — TOVVNSHEND 



ii. Newell Colby, b. Jan. 27, 190J. 
iii. Clara Gary, b. Feb. 22, 1905. 
iv. Edith Helleii, b. Nov. 25, 1907- 
V Mabel Edith (.Chelsea), b. Jan. 28, 1S72; 
A.B. Kadchffe College, 1S94; unmar- 
ried. 
III. James, b. 1S2O; m. Louisa WitUam. 
They had ; — 
i. Charles. 
ii. William. 
iii. Maria, 
iv. John. 
V. Walter. 
vi. Sarah, ^^.j^j 

Elmer, 
vii. Caroline. , ^^i j 

■*. 4. John2 (r/ioHia^i), born in Lynn, and settled 
in Reading, Mass.; freeman May 8, 1678. His 
father gave him a farm of 60 acres m the town 
of Lynn, Nov. 23, 166S, and he bouglit with his 
brother-in-law, Hananiah Parker, son of 1 homas 
Parker, of Lynn, lands in Reading, of Edward 
Taylor and Elizabeth his wife, June i, 1675. 

He was by occupation a wheelwright and lived 
to be a very aged man; his will, dated June 15, 
1722-3, styles him of "Lynn in the County ot 
Essex, in this, his Alajesty's Province of Massa- 
chusetts Bay in New England, Yeoman. Being 
by God's providence grown into old age, and 
weak in body, though of perfect mind and mem- 
ory." , 

His wills, dated Jan. 15. 1722-3, mentions hav- 
ing given his real estate to his sons; books and 
other household goods to be equally divided 
among his children. He died at Lynn, Dec. 4, 
1726, and his will was proved at Salem, Dec. 30, 
1726. Son Daniel, executor. He married at 
Lynn, March 27, 1668, Sarah, daughter of John 
Pearson, who was from Norwich, County Nor- 
folk, England, and who was near neighbor to his 
father, on Boston street, Lynn; she died, July 9, 
1689. 
They had : — 

i. George, prob. his son, m. Rebecca Cow- 
dry, Dec. 7, 1688. He may have m. 
2d, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Crane. 
ii. Sarah, b. Sept. 4, 1673 ; m. Stephen Wes- 
ton. 
iii. John, b. Mar. 17, 1675; d. Jan. 1757. 
iv. Mary, b. Sept. 2, 1677; d. July 6, 1717. 
V. Hannah, b. Feb. 11, 1680. 
vi. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 9, 1682; m. Jonathan 

Nichols Apr. 11, 1753. 
vii. Noah, b. Aug. 30, 1686; d. Dec. 15, 1713. 
viii. Ebenezer, b. July 3, 1686. 
Second wife, Mehitable, daughter of Nicholas 
Brown, whose other daughter, Elizabeth, married 
Hannaniah Parker, and he, for second wife, mar- 
ried Mary Barsham, widow of Deacon John, son 
of Henry Bright, of Watertown. Mass., and for- 
merly of Bury St. Edmunds, County Suffolk, 
England, married, April 2^, 1690. 

"This Henry Bright's sister, Mary, married 
William Forth, of Nayland, County Suffolk, and 
their son, Dr. William Forth of London, -was 
executor for his aunt Elizabeth (Forth) Dells' 



will, [widow late of Bowes, County Middlesex, 
Eng.J The 'Brights of Suffolk, Eng.,' p. 281, 
mentions an acquittance, Suffolk Records Mass., 
Vol. HI, p. 170, dated Boston, July 20, 1659, and 
wiUiessed by three principal men of Boston, Ed- 
ward Ting, Thomas Buttolph and Nathaniel New- 
gate; for Henry Bright of New England, the 
brother of aforesaid, for i200. These Forths 
were near cousins to Mary F"orth, first wife of 
Gov. Winthrop and to Margaret F'orth, the 
mother of Thomas Townsend, aforesaid. William 
Forth, LL.D., and his brother Dannett F^orth, 
woolen-draper, were appointed overseers of will 
of Edward Park, of London, proved Jan. 29, 1650. 
In a letter to Gov. Winthrop he is called cousin, 
and Henry Bright of Watertown, Mass., uncle, 
who is made attorney for his son, Henry Park, 
1655, (Mass. Flist. Soc. Col., Vol. VII, p. 385-8, 
series IV.) Of this Forth family were John, 
Thomas, Robert and Roger F'orth, all brothers 
of Dr. William Forth, LL.D,, and Dannett Forth, 
draper, and sheriff of London, whose daughter, 
Mary, married Francis St. John, brother of Cath- 
erine St. John, nephew and niece of Rev. Samuel 
Whitings, of Lynn, wife Elizabeth. There was, 
also, of this family, Henry Forth, Esq., Alderman 
of London, who married Albinia 'y^ posthumous 
daughter of Sir Henry Vane, of Raby, County 
York (the Martyr), and Gov. of New England.'" 

Henry Bright's will, dated Aug. 28, 1733- She 
died July, 173S, and her will was proved July 14, 
I735,_giving a few articles of clothing to Han- 
nah Aborne and her property to son Daniel, 
whom she appoints executor. This Daniel had 
son Daniel killed at Lexington, April 19, 1775- 
He was born at Lynn, December 26, 1738. aud ^ 
Deacon of the Church at Lynfield when the War 
of the Revolution broke out, and on receipt of 
the news of a detachment of regulars marching 
on Concord to destroy army stores, he marched 
with a company of minute-men and arrived at the 
scene of action about daylight on the day of the 
battle. Lewis' Hist, of Lynn, Mass., says: 
Timothy Monroe, of Lynn, one of the wounded, 
testified "that he was standing behind a house 
with Daniel Townsend, firing on the British 
troops as they were coming down the road_ on 
their retreat toward Boston. Townsend had just 
fired, and exclaimed, 'There's another red-coat 
down,' when Monroe, looking around, saw to his 
astonishment that they were completely hemmed 
in by the flank guard of the British army, who 
were coming down through the field behind them. 
They immediately ran into the house and sought 
for the cellar, but no cellar was there. All this 
time, which was indeed but a moment, the balls 
were pouring through the back window, making; 
havoc of the glass. Townsend leaped through 
the end window, carrying the sash and all with 
Viim, and instantly fell dead. Monroe followed 
him and escaped." 

After the regulars had passed, Mr. Townsend S 
remains, which had seven bullets through the 
body, were carried by his townsmen to Lynfield, 
and lay the next night in the Bancroft House, 
where the blood stains remain on the old oaken 



29 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEMD 



floor to this day. He left a wife and five chil- 
dren. The Essex Casctte of May 2, 1775, in a 
brief obituary, speaks of him as having been "a 
constant and ready friend to the poor and 
aflficted, a good adviser m cases of diliicuhy, a 
mild, snicere and able reprover. In short," it 
adds, "he was a friend to his country, a blessing 
to society, an ornament to the church of which 
he was an officer." He was buried at Lynfield, 
April 2, 1775, where his monument now stands, 
with the following inscription; 

Lie, valiant Townsend, in the peaceful shades; 

we trust 
Immortal honors mingle with thy dust. 
What though thy body struggled in its gore. 
So did thy Saviour's body long before; 
And as he raised his own by power divine 
So the same power shall also quicken thine. 
And in eternal glory mayst thou shine. 

John Townsend died at Lynn, Dec. 14, 1726-7. 
They had : 

, i.x. Thomas, b. Oct. 7, 1692; d. June i, 1716. 
X. Mehitable, b. Apr. 28, 1695 ; d. Sept. 1695. 
xi. Martha, b. Aug. 14, 1697; d. May 27, 1729. 
xii. Daniel, b. Apr. i, 1700; d. Oct. 10, 1761 ; 
m. Lydia Sawyer, Oct. 18, 1726. 
5. Andrew^ (Thomas^), born in Lynn; made 
freeman April 18, 1691. His father gave him in 
deed of gift dated June ist, 1674, two acres of 
land, part of his own lot, south side the Mill 
street, near the commons in Lynn ; and the rest 
of his estate after the death of himself and wife 
Mary (the mother of aforesaid), provided he 
would live with them and carry on their afifairs 
during life. He was a soldier in Captain Gard- 
ner's company and was wounded in the great bat- 
tle fought with the Narragansett Indians, in Rhode 
Lsland, Dec. 19, 1675. He married, July 18, 167S, 
Abigail, daughter of John Collins of Lynn. They 
both died of camp fever, he on the loth of Feb., 
1692, she on the 22d of Feb. following; and the 
inventory of his estate was made by appraisers 
chosen by his brothers, March 3, 1692; and his 
brother Samuel Townsend of Chelsea, and Sam- 
uel Johnson of Lynn, were appointed Admin- 
istrators to his estate, which was settled May I, 
1694; and as guardians for his children, their 
uncle Samuel Townsend was appointed for Abi- 
gail and David, and kinsman Daniel Mansfield of 
Lynn, for Thomas, Elizabeth, Andrew and 
Daniel. 

They had: — 

_i. Thomas, b. June 11, 1679; d. 
ii. Abigail, b. Jan. 23, 1680; d. Fel». 22, 1692. 
iii. Elizabeth, b. May 21, 1683; d. 
iv. Mary, b. July 7, l68q : d. Dec. TO, 1685. 
V. Andrew, b. July 7, 1685 ; d. Dec. 1688. 
vi. Daniel, b. Dec, 1688; mar., had children, 

settled in Charleston, S. C. 

vii. David, b. April 6, 1691; mar. Mabel 

Shippie. 

Samuel Johnson, one of the Adms. of Andrew 

Townsend estate, married, June 22, 1664, Mary, 

sister of Abigail, daughter of John Collins of 



Lynn. Mr. Shippie Townsend's son David was a 
pupil of Maj. Gen. Warren [who was killed at 
Bunker's Hill] ; and was during the Revolution- 
ary War a surgeon in the American Army and 
member of the Society of Cincimiati, and his son, 
Maj. David S. Townsend, lost a leg at the battle 
of Chrystlers-Field, Canada, in the war of 1812- 
14. Dr. Solomon Davis Townsend, a distin- 
guished physician of Boston, who was much in- 
terested in the history of his family, informed 
the writer that William Townsend of Boston, 
1634, and Thomas Townsend, of Lynn, 1637-8, 
if related at all, must have been very distant rela- 
tives, as no relationship was claimed by his (the 
Lynn) family with the Boston family. He, by 
wife Elizabeth, a daughter of Elbridge Gerry, 
Vice-President of the United States, had Maj. 
Gen. E. D. Townsend, U. S. A., now [1881] 
stationed at Washington, D. C. 

6. Isaac {Samuel^ Thomas^, born in Chelsea 
and settled in Boston. He bought, April 20, 1716, 
lands on Winter street, of Henry Bridgman, join- 
ing to Colonel Penn Townsend's on north-west 
and north-east. He was killed at a fire in Bos- 
ton, Jan. 16, 1717-18, aged 37. He witnessed Gov. 
Bellmgham's will. Married July 7, 1703, Anne, 
daughter of Captain Edmund Ranger, who, after 
her hu,sband's death, sells the property on Winter 
street to John Clark, Esq., of Boston, Oct. 10, 
1719, for i88. Her sister Prudence (Ranger) 
married Mr. Ezekiel Clisby, and in her will 
proved Mar. 27, 1732, she divides her estate be- 
tween her "two kinswomen. Prudence Ranger, 
daughter of my brother John Ranger, and Anne 
Townsend, daughter of my sister Anne Towns- 
end, deceased." Mrs. Townsend died at Boston, 
Nov. 8, 1726, aged 50. 
They had : — 

i. Isaac, b. March 25, 1704; d. Apr. 26, 1785, 

in Boston. 

ii. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 2, 1705; d. Sept. 28, 1708, 

in Boston. 

7 iii. Jeremiah, b. Nov. 12, 1711; d. Jan. 6, 1802, 

in New Haven. 

iv. Anne, b. June 27, 1714; d. June 2, 1744, 

in Boston ; m. David Bell, Aug. 28, 

1735; d. Jan. 2, I744-S- 

V. Ebenezer, b. June 25, 1716; d. Dec. 3, 

1775, in New Haven; m. Elizabeth Lar- 

man. Nov. 23, 1738; d. Aug. 30, 1774. 

7. Jeremiah (Isaac? Samuel? Thomas'^), born 

in Boston, Mass. Baptized in Old South Church, 

Nov. 18, 171 1. Moved with his family and 

brother Ebenezer to New Haven, Conn., where 

they settled May 20, 1739. He bought lands the 

year before (Mar. 10. 1738) of Mindwell Jones, 

in the Governor's Quarters, for £16; also buys, 

Dec. 10, 1739, of Ebenezer Mix, one-half of house 

and lot, one acre more or less, on the north-west 

corner of the Green or Market Place. He again 

buys, Apr. 6. 1742. the other half for $260. Also 

house and land of Elizabeth Perkins. His first 

wife was Hannah, daughter of John Kneeland 

or Cleland, of Boston, Mass., member of Old 

South Church, April 16, 1722; married April 16, 

1734. hy the Rev. Thomas Prince. She died July 



30 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



30, 1744, aged 33. Married, 2d wife, Rebecca 
Parkman, widow of Captain Coit of Boston (who 
was lost on a voyage from the West Indies), Oct. 
9, 1746. She died in New Haven, Jan. 15, 1788, 
aged 69. 

Mr. Townsend left to his descendants and 
younger contcinporaries [many known to the 
writer] a record of his family, together with a 
tradition which has been proved correct by evi- 
dence collected from English and Colonial Rec- 
ords, and supported by numerous facts and cir- 
cumstances. His change of residence to New 
Haven was through the suggestion of his friend 
Mr. William Greenough, a ship-wright of New 
Haven, who was from Boston and connected with 
the Stoddard. Chauncey and Shrimpton families, 
of Noddle Island (now East Boston). Mr. 
Townsend died at New Haven Jan. 6, 1803, and 
was buried in the old church-yard in the rear of 
the first church on the Green ne.xt his two wives, 
and the foundation of the west wall of the present 
edifice was laid across their graves, and their 
monuments are now preserved in the Crypt lately 
renovated through the public spirit and meritori- 
ous efforts of Thomas Rutherford Trowbridge, 
Jr., Esq., a member of the society's committee. 
They had : 

i. Jeremiah, b. in Boston, Jan. 20, 1734-5; 
d. Sept. 24, 1794, in New Haven; m. 
Abigail Woodbridge; d. May 20, 1768, 
aged 31. 
ii. Isaac, b. in Boston, July 18, 1735 ; d. 
Nov. 28, 1736. in New Haven. 
8. iii. Isaac, b. in Boston, Oct. 13, 1737 ; d. 
June, 1818, in New Haven; m. Eliza- 
beth Hitchcock. 
iv. John, b. in Boston, July 22, 1739; d. 

Nov. 30, 17.39, in New Haven. 
V. Samuel, b. Oct. 14, 1740; d. Aug. 29, 
1795, in East Haven ; m. Sarah Tread- 
way: d. Feb. 7, 1801. aged 64. 
vi. Hannah, b. Nov. 29, 1742; d. May 31, 
1773, in New Haven. 
His children by second wife, Rebecca (Park- 
man) Coit, were : 

vii. Nathaniel, b. Oct. 10, 1747; d. 1818, in 
Norwich, Conn.; m. Hannah Hughes; 
d. 1802. aged 42. 
viii. John, b. Aug. i, 1749: d. Feb. 1833, in 
New Haven, Conn. ; m. Martha Beards- 
ley; d. Nov. 7, 1797, aged 45. 
ix. Rebecca, b. Dec. 14, 1751 ; d. 1800. 

X. William, b. Dec. 7, 1753 ; d. . 

xi. Timothy, b. Nov. 10, 1755; d. Feb. 15, 
1832; m. Hannah Ailing. 
8. Isaac (Jrirmiah.' Isaac;' Samuel: Thomas'), 
born m Boston, came a child to New Haven 
with his parents. Commenced business in New 
Haven, but moved to Stratford, Conn., about 
1763. where he owned property and most of his 
children were born. About 1783 he removed to 
New Haven, where he lived the remainder of 
nis life. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of 
£ fj aid Abigail (Butler) Hitchcock, of Spring- 
field, Mass., and cousin of Maj. Gen. David 
iWooster, killed near Ridgefield, Conn., May 2, 



1777, in battle with the British forces under Gov. 
Tryon, while on their return from Danbury. Her 
sister, Abigail, widow of John Brown, married 
Capt. Ezekiel Hayes, great-grandfather of Ruth 
erford Burchard Hayes, ex-President of the 
United States. She was born at Springfield, 
Mass., Aug. 5, 1741 ; died Nov. 9, 1792. 
They had : — 

i. Elizabeth, b. Nov. I, 1762; d. Jan. 15, 
1852, unmaried. 
9. ii. Isaac, b. Feb. 4, 1765; d. Nov. S, 1841; 
m. Rhoda Atwater. 
iii. Kneeland, b. March 20, 1757; d. May 15, 

1844; m. Sarah Thompson. 
iv. Jacob, b. April 10, 1769; d. May 7, 1852; 
m. first wife, Betsey Clark; second 
wife, Eunice Atwater. 
V. Abigail, b. Sept. 4, 1771 ; d. May 30, 1814, 

unmarried. 
vi. Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1774; d. Dec. 26, 1788, 

unmarried. 
vii. Sarah, b. 1776; died May I, 1844; mar- 
ried Joel Atwater. 
viii, Anne, b. May 20, 1779; died Nov. 18, 
1S61, unmarried. 
ix. William, b. May 12, 1781 ; d. July 28, 
1849; m. Maria Lampson. 
Elmer Townsend (son of William), b. March 
2, 1807, d. April 13, 1871, at Boston, Mass., where 
he went when about 19 years of age. He started 
as a clerk 'in a wholesale leather store and ad- 
vanced rapidly to the point where he bought the 
business and conducted it in his own name. He 
invented many valuable machines that are used 
in shoe manufactory. He married Wealthy Ann 
Beecher, of New Haven, Conn., Nov. 21, 1833. 
Issue, Elizabeth and Elizabeth Mary, who died 
young, Henry Elmer, b. Dec. 29, 1841 ; d. July 
II, i8gi ; Helen Cordelia, b. July 9, 1849, and 
Benjamin Beecher, b. Dec. 4, 1848. 

Henry Elmer, married Emilie W. Kaupe, April 
II, 1867. She was born in Crefeld, Prussia, d. 
April, igo6. Issue, Robert Elmer, b. Feb. 7, 1868; 
Fritz Edward, b. Aug. 15, 1869; d. 1898, and 
Lilian Henrietta, b. June 17, 1873. 

Helen Cordelia, married Theodore Frelinghuy- 
sen Breck April 18, 1872. Dr. Breck was born 
in Vienna. N. Y., July 29, 1844. His family emi- 
grated to America in 1635, he being a descendant 
in the eighth generation of Edward Breck, of 
Lancaster, Eng. His great great grandfather was 
graduated from Harvard College in 1742, and be- 
came a physician of prominence. His father. Dr. 
Wm. G. Breck, a practicing physician in Spring- 
field, Mass., for forty years, is recalled as a 
masterly man with a natural talent for his profes- 
sion. Theo. F. d. at his home, "Round Hill," 
Springfield, Mass., June 25, 1904. Issue, Helen 
Townsend, b. March 19, 1873, and William Gil- 
man, b. June 12, 1875. Helen Townsend m. John 
C. Howard, of Chicago. Issue, Helen. William 
Gilman, m. Edith Woods, of Springfield, Mass. 

Benjamin Beecher, married Sophie Anna 
Kaupe, of Crefeld Prussia. Issue, Nelson K., m. 
Marie K., of N. Y. C. Issue, Welthean May, b. 
,1901. 



M 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Robert Elmer, son of Henry Elmer, residing in 
Boston, m. Josephine Weildon, Ap. 1891. Issue, 
Robert Elmer, Jr., b. Dec. 11, 1892. 

Lillian Henrietta, dau. Henry Elmer, m. Fred- 
erick Elmer Snow, of Boston, Mass., April ii, 
1896. Issue, twins, died at birth, 1896; William 
Townsend, b. Sep. 19, 1897; Kitchell, b. June 29, 
1899, and C , b. 1905. 

9. Isaac^ (Isaac,^ Jeremiah,'^ Isaac? Samuel^ 
Thomas^), born in Stratford, Conn. In the year 
1781, when but 16 years of age, he joined a Con- 
necticut regiment under the command of Col. 
Meigs, and served until the close of the war 
of the Revolution. He commenced business as a 
merchant in New Haven, 1788-89, and was largely 
interested in mercantile pursuits by land and sea, 
having branch houses in Charleston and Cheraw, 
S. C, and an Agency in New York and London, 
where his brother Kneeland Townsend for many 
years resided. Was interested in landed estate 
in V'irginia, Vermont, Connecticut and Ohio. In 
the latter State he was joint owner with his 
brothers of the town of Townsend, Huron Coun- 
ty. During the last war with England he was, 
with his sou Isaac Henry (late professor of law 
in Yale College), taken prisoner by one of the 
enemy's armed vessels cruising in Long Island 
Sound, while on the passage to New Haven from 
New York on board the packet sloop "Susan," 
Oct. 9, 1814. They were taken to Plum Island 
and detained on board H. B. Majesty's ship 
"Pomone," Captain Carteret, until ransomed. 

Mr. Townsend retired from active business 
soon after the war on an ample fortune, and his 
business was successfully carried on by his sons. 
He married Rhoda, daughter of David and Eliza- 
beth (Bassett) Atwater, April 11, I79S- She was 
born in Hamden, Conn., May 13, 1766, and died 
in New Haven, April 10, 1840, aged 74 years. 

They had : — 

10. i. William Kneeland, b. June 3, 1796; d- 

Sept. 23, 1849. 
ii. Elizabeth Mary, b. Feb. 18, 1798; m. 

Isaac Beers, Nov. 26, 1821. 
iii. Isaac Atwater, b. Dec. 2, 1799; d. June, 

1803. 
iv. Charles Henry, b. April 26, 1801 ; d. June 

II. 1847. 
V. Isaac Henry, b. April 25, 1S03 ; d. June 

II, 1847. 
vi. Jane Marie, b. May I, 1805 ; d. Dec. 15, 

1814. 
Vii. George Atwater, b. Oct. 28, 1807; _m. 
first wife, Juliet Sanford; second wife, 
Mildred Parker. 
viii. Emily Augusta, b. Sept. 28, 1810; m. 
David Sanford, of Newtown, Conn., 
Oct. 5. 1831 : d. Feb. 6. 1875. 
10. William Kneeland^ (Isaac,^ Isaac.^ Jere- 
miah* Isaac? Samuel? TJwmas''-). bom in New 
Haven, educated at the Hopkins Grammar School, 
and commenced life a merchant. He was Di- 
rector of the New Haven Bank, President of 
several Corporations and Associations, a Lieuten- 
ant of the 2d Company of Governor's Horse 
Guards of the State of Connecticut, a Justice of 



the Peace and Representative for the town of 
East Haven to the Conencticut State Assembly. 
About 1830, on account of ill health, he retired 
from business and made his residence at "Bay- 
ridge," Raynham, then within the limits of the 
town of East Haven, but by an Act of the Con- 
necticut Legislature annexed in 1881 to New 
Haven. This property he had bought of his 
father and uncle some time before, and it was 
a part of the original grant by the New Haven 
Colony to William Tuttle. the maternal ancestor 
of his wife, Eliza Ann, eldest daughter of Hervey 
and Nancy (Bradley) Mulford, whom he married 
Dec. 3, 1820, and was born in New Haven, Nov. 
26, 1798. This lady's lineage has been traced 
back to many of the first settlers of the New 
England colonies, among them Captain Lyon 
Gardiner, the first Patentee and Lord of the 
Manor of Gardiner's Island, who came over as 
engineer in the employ of the Earl of Warwick, 
and "en route" stopped at Boston, where he 
laid out the fortification on Fort Hill, and the 
season following located and built Saybrook Fort, 
which he so valiantly defended against the Pe- 
quot Indians, and where his daughter Mary was 
born, who married Jeremiah Conklin, from whom 
descended Mrs. Townsend's father. Hervey Mul- 
ford, Esq., a graduate of Yale College, class 1794, 
and a merchant ; eldest son of Barnabas Mulford, 
Jr.5 (Barnabas,* Thomas,^ Thomas,2 Williaml), 
born at Branford, Conn., Feb. 13, 174S; married 
November 10, 1771, Mehitable, daughter of 
Timothy and Mary (Punchard) Gorham, fifth in 
descent from Capt. John Gorham, who married 
1643, Desire, daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Tilly) Howland (and perhaps grand-daughter 
of Gov. Carver), Pilgrims of the "Mayflower," 
1620. This Capt. Gorham, an early settler of 
Barnstable from the Plymouth Colony, died on 
service at Swanzey of fever contracted in the 
King Philip Indian War, Feb. 5, 1676. His son 
Jabez, born at Barnstable Aug. 3, 1656, married 

Hannah and was wounded in 

the same war, and for this family's efforts the 
Plymouth Court granted the heirs of Capt. John 
Gorham, in recognition of their service, 100 acres 
of the tract called Papasquash Neck, now Bristol, 
R. I. Isaac, a son of Jabez, born Feb. i, 1689. 

His first wife, Mary He moved 

to New Haven, where he bought lands in 1719, 
and married his second wife, Hannah Miles, by 
whom with other children they had son Timothy 
aforesaid. Both Mr. and Mrs. Townsend died 
at "Ravnham." Mr. T. Sept. 23, 1849, and Mrs. 
T. Jan' 3, 1881. aged 82, and the next day after 
Mrs. Townsend's death, in the New Haven 
"Journal and Courier," appeared the following 
notice of Mrs. Townsend's useful and well-spent 
life, and three days afterwards an account of her 
funeral ceremonies. These in memoriam the 
writer prints for preservation, prompted only by 
love and affection for those whose memories he 
holds dear. 

PASSED AWAY. 

"Eliza A., widow of the late William Kneeland 
Townsend, died at the family residence at Rajn- 



32 



TOWNSEND — TOWNS HEN D 



ham, New Haven, yesterday afternoon at half- 
past four. The deceased was 82 years of age 
the 26th of last November. She had been in 
her wonted health until about a day or two be- 
fore her death. The cause of her death was 
owing apparently to sudden failure of the vital 
powers. She had lived to see her children grow 
up to fill honored and prominent places and to 
see her grandchildren likewise rising to places of 
honor. She had been active for one of her years, 
and retained to a high degree her cheerfulness, 
quick discernment and active powers of mmd 
generally. She was the eldest daughter of the 
late Hervey and Nancy (Bradley) Mulford. The 
husband of the deceased was for years a highly 
esteemed merchant of New Haven, and on ac- 
count of declining health he retired to the beauti- 
ful and picturesque property now the residence of 
the family, devoting his whole attention to agri- 
culture as a science, and there spent the re- 
mainder of his life, dying at the early age of 53, 
Sept. 23, 1849, after a brief illness. He \yas a 
devoted Christian gentleman, and his virtues 
and valuable public services were finely com- 
memorated in a beautiful in memoriam tribute by 
the Rev. Burdett Hart. Of Mrs. Townsend it 
may truly be said that she was a lady of refine- 
ment and education, and that she lived esteemed, 
honored, beloved and admired by all who knew 
her, bearing her part equally perfect as a Chris- 
tian and a gentlewoman. She was equally be- 
loved bv all, of whatever station; in the homes 
of the poor and the mansions of the rich she re- 
ceived equal homage. She was one of the orna- 
ments of society in her youth and a most lovable 
companion in age. Though highly accomplished 
she was a domestic wife, the fondest of mothers, 
an indulgent mistress, a most sincere and disin- 
terested "friend, and kindly, generous and chari- 
table towards all;" and the ne.\t day after the 
funeral the same paper adds; 

"The funeral of the late Mrs. William Knee- 
land Townsend took place yesterday afternoon at 
two o'clock, from the residence of the family at 
Raynham. New Haven. The grounds, so beauti- 
ful at all seasons of the year, wore a drear aspect 
with their thick burden of snow, ice-encased and 
dripping branches of the trees, and with_ a misty 
rain falling; and outward the water view pre- 
sented an ice-bound harbor and sullen waves of 
the Sound in the distance. _ Notwithstanding na- 
ture wore this somewhat inclement aspect, the 
beautiful residence was thronged with mourning 
friends, many of whom had left homes of_ ele- 
gance and every comfort to pay their last tribute 
to the memory of the sleeper, whose long life had 
become invested with a radiance from her rare 
union of accomplishments, a most endearing na- 
ture and whose lovely character and Christian 
virtues shone more and more brightly as life 
wore on apace, leaving a store of precious mem- 
ories to three generations of descendants. Offici- 
ating at the funeral were the Rev. Burdett Hart, 
of the First Congregational Church, Fair Havep, 
who delivered a rarely beautiful discourse in 
memoriam at the death of Mr. Townsend, the 



beloved husband of the deceased; and Rev. Dr. 
Bacon, tlic honored divine, who was the pastor 
of the deceased for many years. A finished and 
elegant tribute was given by the Rev. Mr. Hart, 
in which he referred to the beautiful Christian 
character of the deceased lady, and to the hus- 
band who died years before, honored, esteemed 
and lamented at the old home, where the closing 
years of his life were spent. The separation was 
now over, and both had left a precious message 
to their children and children's children and 
friends, in the dying words, 'Live for Christ.' 
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, who 
spoke of the consolations of Christ as the true 
balm for the stricken heart; and the joy and 
serenity which Christ's blessing gave to the be- 
lieving soul. Thomas Rutherford Trowbridge, 
Senior, Esq., was in charge of the funeral cere- 
monies, and the pall bearers were six of the sons 
of the deceased. The death of Mrs. Townsend 
is the third in the family that has occurred in 
the old homestead in a period of 75 years." 
They had : — 

11. i. William Isaac, b. Nov. 28, 1822. 

12. ii. James Mulford, b. Jan. 20, 1825. 

iii. George Henry, b. in New Haven, Dec. 
28, 1826; m. Oct. 22, 1862, Mary Ger- 
trude, dau. of James and Margaret 
(Snedecker) Buckelew, of Jamesburg, 
N. J., where she was born Nov. 12, 
1838. He still resides on Townsend 
Ave., New Haven, Conn. 

iv. Frederick Atwater, b. in New Haven, 
Mar. 23, 1829; m. Jane, dau. of the late , 
Roger Sherman Prescott, Esq., of New 
Haven, Conn. 

V. Robert Raikes, b. in East Haven, Dec. 22, 
1831 ; d. June 30, 1857; m. March 21, 
1853, Almira N., dau. of Hezekiah and 
Nancy (Landfair) Tuttle, of Fair Ha- 
ven, Conn., where she was b. Oct. 17, 

13. vi. Charles Hervey, b. Nov. 16, 1833. 
vii. Timothy Beers, b. Nov. 21, 1835. 

14. viii. Edward Howard, b. April 8, 1840. 

ix. Eliza Mulford, b. Dec. 3. 1842, in East 
Haven; m. Oct. 13, 1863, Charles Au- 
gustus Lindsley, of New York. 

11. William Isaac? iWiUiam KJ Isaac,^ Isaac.^ 
lereviiah,'^ Isaac.^ Sainncl? Tlminas'^). bom in 
New Haven ; married .-Xpril 22, 1850. Elizabeth B., 
daughter of Col. Mason A. and Elizabeth (Brad- 
ley) Durand. of New Haven, where she was 
born April 7, 1828. 

They had : — 
i. Elizabeth Durand, b. Feb. 11, 1851; d. May 
27, 1857. 

12. James Mulford^ {IVUUam KJ Isaac^ 
Isaac^ Jeremiah,^ Isaac? Samuel." Thomas^), 
born in New Haven: married Sept. i, 1847, Maria 
Theresa, daughter of Epaphras and Sarah (Hall) 
Clark, of Middletown, Conn., where she was 
born, Oct. 10, 1828. 

Thev had : — 

i. William KneelandS (lames, A/. .8 William KJ 
Isaac^ Isaac,^ Jeremiah^ Isaac? Samuel^ 

33 



TOWNSEND-TOWNSHEND 



Thomas^), Attorney and Counselor at Law, New 
Haven. Conn.; born June 12, 1848; was gradu- 
ated from Yale College (academic department), 
1871, with high honors. He then took an ex- 
tended tour to Europe, and, on his return en- 
tered the Yale Law School, 1872, taking both the 
Jewell and Civil Law composition prizes, and 
graduated, 1874, second in his class, with degree 
of LL.B. On his return from a second Euro- 
pean trip he began the practice of law in New 
Haven and entered the "graduate course" of the 
Law School in 1876, taking the degree of M L 
in 1878, and of D.C.L. in 1880. In 1879-80 he 
was a member of the Court of Common Council, 
New Haven, and in 1880 was elected Alderman 
from the First Ward for the term of two years. 
In 1881 Doctor Townsend published a law book 
entitled: "The New Connecticut Civil Officer" 
and m June, 1881, he was appointed Professor of 
o Vl^ in Yale College. He married, July i, 
1874. Mary Leavenworth, eldest daugliter of Win- 
ston J. and Mary (Leavenworth) Trowbridge of 
New Haven, Conn. She was born in Barbadoes 
West Indies, May 6, 1851, where her father was 
American Consul and a resident merchant and 
partner of the house of Henry Trowbridge's 
Sons, of New Haven, Conn. 

They had : — 

Winston Trowbridge, b. June 10. 1878. 
Mary Leavenworth, b. Dec. 6, 1879 
James Mulford. Jr., Attorney and Counselor at 
Law, New York City; bom Aug. 26, 1852 gradu- 
ated at the Hopkins Grammar School in 1869, and 
after traveling through Europe, entered Yale 
College in 1870 and graduated in 1874 vvith an 
oration, and was chosen one of the Commence- 
ment speakers. He took, besides other honors, 
both the Junior and Senior "Townsend prizes" 
was one of the editors of the "College Courant"" 
ranked first in his class in English Composition 
and received the DeForest prize (gold medal) 
then the highest collegiate honor at Yale, being 
awarded to that scholar of the Senior class who 
shall write and pronounce an English oration in 
'"e best manner." On completion of his duties 
at Yale he again visited Europe, and on his 
return studied law in the office of Chittenden & 
Hubbard, and at same time was a member of 
Columbia Law School in New York, from which 
he graduated in 1876, and in the same year be- 
came a member of the firm of Chittenden & 
Hubbard, and upon the retirement of Mr. Hub- 
bard became a member of the new firm of Chit- 
tenden, Townsend & Chittenden. Mr. Townsend 
was married Nov. 15, 1882, in Lexington. Va., 
to Miss Harriet Campbell, daughter nf Professor 
John Campbell. LL.D., Professor of Geology and 
Chemistry in Washington and Lee University of 
Lexington. 

13- Charles Hervev? (jrHIiani KJ Isaac.^ 
Isaac^ Jcremiah.i Isaac? Samuel.^ Thomas^), 
born at "Raynham," East Haven, married April 
26, 1871, Mary Ann, daughter of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Prescott) Hotchkiss of New Haven, 
where she was bom Dec. 5, 1839. 



They had : — 

i. Henry Hotchkiss Townshend, bom in New 

Haven Sept. 30, 1874. 
11. Raynham Townshend, born in New Ha- 
ven July 10, 1878. 
A Yale graduate; after serving as house phy- 
l?r", q", ^°°5evejt Hospital, N. Y. C, married 
Juliet Stanton Adee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs 
George A Adee m St. Peters Episcopal Church, 
Westchester Village, June 4, 1908. Dr. Towns- 
hend IS now a practicing physician in New 
rlaven. 

14. Edward Howards aViUiam K.7 Isaacs 
Isaac,^ Jeremiahi Isaac? Samuel,^ Thomas^ 

^9'",9^i i^^"'iTT'" 5=^'* ^'^''^"' ™""«d April 
fv^^^\ ^J"i\^'"i'VT^='"- °^ Caleb S. and Mary 
(Foster) Maltby, of New Haven, Conn. She was 
b. April 4, 1843, ,n Triadelphia, Va, 
They had :— 
1. Maud, b. in New Haven June 21, 1871- 
died July 2$, 1871. 

■^RNm ^A'^^JS OP JEREMIAH TOWNS- 
t,.\iJ (7) (Isaac, Samuel, Thomas), con- 
tinued raoM P. 58 "The Townshend Family" 
AND N.E Register, Vol. xxix, Jan., i87t; ' 
Jeremiah Townsend (7) removed to New Ha- 
r!."=V.„ "m '""^"8 May 20, 1739. He was m. in 
Boston, Mass., by the Rev. Thomas Prince Ap 
10, 1734, to Hannah Kneeland, who d July V) 
1744, (2) Oct. 9, 1746, Rebecca (Parkman) Coit' 
who d. Jan. 15, 1785. ' ' 

Jeremiah Townsend, eldest s. of Jeremiah (7), 
b Boston, Mass., Jan. 20, 1734-e (n c&) /\ ' 

l7. 'l.r: "^"""t- '^P^ ^'•''^'' '-■ Man 
I79S, i336. 7- 3— Jeremiah Atwater and Rob't 

1 ownsend apprs., s. Jeremiah adm'n, wid refus- 
ing. Sarah a minor child chose bro. Jeremiah 
guard, m. by Rev. Mr. Whittlesey, Nov. 20, 176, 
Abigail, dau. of Hon Timothy and Abigail (Day) 
Woodbridge b. Stockbridge, Mass., Ap. 2 1737 
d. New Haven, May 20, 1768 

i. Jeremiah, b. June 27, 1762. Y. C. 1779: en- 
gaged m the shipping business with his f.-in-law 
Jeremiah Atwater. He d. in N. H. of yellow 
fever, Juty 22 1805. Adm. of his est. given to 
Wm. S Hotchkiss and Thos. Townsend July 29 
i8os; bond $40,000; Anna. H. Denison, Lydia 
James_ A., Chas. W., Nancy and Wm. B named 
f ^"-l "f ."'■ J™^ 4- 1784, Anna, dau. of 
.1^a\'''"^ '^""^ ''Mix) Atwater, b. Sept. 28 
1764; d. Aug. 10, 1852, a. 88 

I. Juliana b. Oct. 15, 1785; d. Dec. 17, 1824; 
m. Henry Denison, pres. New Haven Bank--i 
I. Henry. 2. Charles. 3. Abel 

^' w-n- ''■ ^'P^ -°i '788; d. Ap. ir, 1819. 
3. Wilham Buck, b Ap. 6, 1790; d Mav 18 
1867: res m N^Y. C, and ' wa's' Editor oF the 

Siisan T Rillf ^TuTu'^-.''^ Raynham, E. H.. 
Susan I. Bills, and had besides 3 daus 

I Kneeland S b at Raynham, E. H.. Sept 
Lland^N^r'- ""• ^- ^- ^^^'■^^"•^^ °" Statin 
colonel.^R^^Y.^C ''°"' ^^ ^"'- ''• '^'^' '^-y^^' 



3- William B., b. Dec. 4, 1829. 



34 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



1. Susan m. G. S. Scofield, Agt. Am. S. S. 
Union, N. Y. 

2. Julia m. Nathaniel Marsh, Pres. N. \. 
& Erie R. R. Co. 

3. Mary Townsend m. George B. Ripley, 
Banker, N. Y. 

4. Jeremiah, b. Ap. 7, 1/93; d. Sept. 5, l/QS- 

5. Catharine, b. Nov. 3, 1796; d. June 24, 1803. 

6. Lydia, b. June 30, 1708; d. June 23, 1821. 

7. Jeremiah, b. Dec. 29, 1800; d. Oct. 16, 1845; 
m. Mary C. Mix— rem. to Mo. i. James T. 2. 
Louisa R. 

8. Catharine W., b. June 30, 1803; m. Francis 
T. Jarman: had son F. Townsend Jarman, mer- 
chant of New Haven, Conn. 

ii. Woodbridge, b. Nov. 21, 1762; d. 1762; d. ,r. 

p. Feb. 20, 1793; m. Catharine who d. a 

abt. 20 yrs. ; (2) Sally Gorham— She m. (2) 
Isaac Beers. 

iii. Abigail, b. June 29, 1764; d. Sept. 10, Sm. 

iv. Abigail, b. June 24, d. Dec, 1767. 
V. Thomas, d. .y. i. at Nassau, New Provi- 
dence. W. I., m. 

vi. Sally. 

vii. James, d. in N. H. Ap. I, 1870; m. 

Cook, {2) Hulda Smith— i. by 2 m. 

I. Emily. 2. Virginia : an Authoress. 3. 
Mary. 

Samuel, b. Oct. 14, 1740, d. Aug. 29, 179S, m 
East Haven, m. Sarah Treadway, who d. Feb. 
7, 1801, aged 64. Will proved Mar. 16, 1801. 
Gave all property to nephew Jered Andrewes and 
wife Dorothv. 

Hannah Townsend (p. 58), 6th child of Jere- 
miah (7), b. Nov. 9, 17+2, d. May 31. 1873, at 
New Haven. 

Children by 2d wife Rebecca (Parkham) Coit. 

Nathaniel Townsend, b. Oct. 10, 1747 (p. 58), 
s. of Jeremiah (7) m. Hannah, dau. of John 
and Zipporah (Hartshorn) Hughes, Sept. 7, 1744, 
d. in Norwich, Conn., 1802, a. 52. She d. Jan. 
23, 1799, a. 74. They had 

1. Fanny, b. Nov. 7, 1776; d. Mar. 29, 
1836, unm. 

2. John Hughes, b. Sept. i, 1778; d. Oct. 4, 
1858, unm. 

3. Charles, b. Norwich, Conn., Jan. 22, 
1786; d. Sept. 14, 1847; m. by Rev. John Chester, 
D.D., at Albany, June 5, 1819, Jane Corning of 
Hartford, Conn. He was appointed Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas, Niagara Co., N. _ Y., 
Apr. 1814, and was Pres. of the Buffalo Savings 
Bank at the time of his death. They had 

i. Anna M., b. Ap. 23, 1820, m. Alfred Par- 
ish Stone of Columbus, O., May 11, 1841. He d. 
Aug. 3, 1865. i. 

ii. George C, b. Sept. 25, 1821 ; d. Jan. 31, 
1852; m. Louisa Matthews, Aug. 30, 1843. He d. 
Columbus, O., Jan. 30, 1852. They had 

1. Charles, b. July I, 1S44, merch't, 116 
John St., N. Y. C; res. Elizabeth, N. J.; m. thr. 
Sept. 29, 1868, Mary Mulligan, i. Louisa b. Jan. 
31, 1870—2. Harriet b. Ap. I, 1874. 

2. Louis, b. Clarence. N. Y., June 23, 
1847; m. at Elizabeth, N. J., June 8, 1869, Carrie 
W. McKinley. He is in the Gents' Furnishing 



business, N. Y. C. ; res. Elizabeth, N. J. i. Willie 
b. Ap. 8, 1870. 

3. Edward W., b. Springville, N. Y., July 
24, 1850; d. Nov. 29, 1854. 

4. George, b. Columbus, O., Jan, 3, 1852. 
iii. Jane C, b. Nov. 30, 1823, m. Guilford 

Reed Wilson of Burlington, Pa., Mar. 31, 1846. 
He d. Feb. 18, 1877. i. 

iv. Mary W., b. Ap. S, 1826, ni. Andrew 
Jackson Rich, Aug. 12, 1846. He d. in N. Y. 
Dec. IS, 1870, Pres. of Bank of Attica, Buffalo, 
N. Y. i. 

V. Charles, b. Ap. 12, 1831, Y. C. 1856, m. 
Martha S. Rich at Buffalo, June, 1856, d. Sept. i, 
1877, at Haslach, Germany. They have : Charles, 
b. July 15, 1857; Harriet, b. June 12, 1859; Ed- 
ward Corning, b. June 10, i860; Cora, b. Jan. 
10, 1867."- 

vi. Frances H., b. July 25, 1835, m. Charles 
Rossell at Buffalo, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1856. He d. 
Apr. 16, 1869. They had : Fanny Townsend, b. 
Jan. 7, 1857; Pierre Adolph, b. May 3, 1859; 
Charles Wilson, b. May 13, 1863. 

4. Hannah, b. Mar. 5. 1789; d. Mar. 12, 1835; 
m. at Buffalo, N. Y., George Coit, Esq.,+ Apr. 4, 
1815. She d. Mar. 1835. He d. May 9, 1866. 

i. Sarah Frances, b. 1816. 
ii. Charles Townsend, b. i8ig — iii. Geo., b. 
1821. 

iv. John Townsend, b. 1824 — v. Francis Ed- 
ward, b. 1826. 

vi. Nath'l Townsend, b. 1829 — vii. Eliza Rip- 
ley, b. 1832. 

viii. William Benjamin, b. 1835. 

5. Rebecca Parkman, b. Aug. 10, 1800; d. 
Buffalo, 1879, unm. 



John Townsend, born Aug. I, 1749, son of Jere- 
miah (7), died in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 6, 
1833. He was a West India merchant, and a 
charter member of the 2d Company Governors 
Foot Guards, and at the Lexington Alarm in 
1775 he marched to Boston with his company, 
under the command of Captain Benedict Arnold. 
Jan. 23, 1780, m. Martha Beardsley of Stratford, 
Conn., b. Sept. 22, 1753, and d. in New Haven, 
Nov. 7, 1797. She was the first person buried in 
the city cemetery on Grove St., Nov. 9, 1797. 

They had 

15 i. James Webster, b. July 20, 1782; d. Dec. 

21, 1824. 

ii. Frances, b. July 12, 1785 ; d. May 15, 184S. 

iii. Rebecca, b. Nov. 24, 1788; d. July 23, 
1869. 

iv. Lucius Beardsley, b. Sept. 9, 1793; d. 
Apr. S, 1794- 

James Webster (15), born in New Haven, was 
a mariner. June 20, 1807, he married Rachel 
Mansfield, daughter of James Kiersted Mansfield 
of New Haven. She was born March 14, 1787, 
and died Feb. 26, 1855. They had 



35 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



i. Lucius Beardsley, b. Apr. i6, 1808; d. in 
N. H. Mar. 19, i88;2. 

16 ii. John, b. July 10, 1812; d. Mar. 16, 1867. 
iii. Mary Frances, b. June 20, 1820; d. in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1899. 
16 John Townsend 7 (James W. 6, John 5, 
Jeremiah 4, Isaac 3, Samuel 2, Thomas i). Mer- 
chant and Captain of Militia. He married Feb. 
5, 1S37, Rebecca, daughter of Sidney Hull of New 
Haven. She was born Feb. 24, 1815, and died 
Mar. 6, 1849. 
They had 

i. Amelia Hull, b. Nov. 4, 1837, m. Sep. 5, 
1861, Elnathan Dwight Street of East Haven, 
Conn. They had Clara Rebecca, b. June 5, 1S62. 
ii. John Webster, b. Feb. 21, 1841. Hard- 
ware merchant in New Haven (The Bronson & 
Townsend Co.). Married June 6, 1871, Ella Tal- 
cott Hull, who died Alar. 10, 1872; (2) Oct. 2, 
1878, married Mary Hickey, born April 4, 1849, 
died May 14, 1898. 
They had : Mary Ella, b. June 15, 1880. 
iii. Jeremiah, b. Apr. 28, 1843. During the 
Civil War he was Captain in the Seventh Connec- 
ticut Volunteers. Married July 5, 1S81, Ida Vanda 
Huke. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 2$, igoo. 
iv. Charles Knevals, b. July 10, 1847. John 
(16) married (2) May 15, 1854, Harriet Esther 
Sears, daughter of Elisha Sears of Middletown, 
Conn. She was born April 15, 1830; died June 
IS, 1891. 
They had 
V. Harriet Rebecca, b. Oct. 31, 1855. 
vii. Mary Mansfield, b. July 22, 1857, d. Mar. 
17, 1859- 

vii. Emily Allison, b. Sept. 30, i860; gradu- 
ated at Vassar College with hanors 1884. 

viii. Joseph Hendley, b. Jan. 18, 1862. Yale 
College, Class 1885. Physician and Secretary 
Conn. State Board of Health, New Haven. Mar- 
ried Apr. 28, 1896, Bertha, daughter of General 
E. D. S. Goodyear of North Haven, Conn., who 
was born Aug. 4, 1865. 

Charles Knevals (iv), son of John Townsend, 
Fruit Grower, Gold Run, Placer County, Cal., 
married in 1873 Emily Schofield of Leoni, Mich. 
They had 

i. John Schofield, b. Oct. 1874; d. Feb. 4, 
1875.. 

ii. John Webster, b. Feb. 15, 1876. 
iii. Mary Elizabeth, b. Dec. 21, 1878. 
iv. Emily Alvira. b. Dec. 26, 1883. 
y. Martha Amelia, b. Oct. 13, 1888. 
vi. Charles Herbert, b. Mar. 13, 1893. 
Rebecca Townsend, b. Dec. 14, 1751 (p. 58), 
dau. of Jer. Townsend (7) ; d. Jan. 28, 1800, a. 
49. m. Abel Buel. 

William Townsend (58), s. of Jer. Townsend 
(7), rem. Colchester, Ct. 

Timothy Townsend, s. of Jer. Townsend (7), 
m. Hannah Ailing — j. 

i. Patty, b. Jan. 18, 1781 ; d. Feb. 12, 1835, 
a. 55, m. Timothy Fowler, of N. H., 9 chil. ; of 
whom : 

2. Caroline A. Fowler, d. Oct. 23, 1874; m. 
Jan. 25, 1837, Hon. James Edward English ; b. 



Alar. 13, 1812 (bro. of Henry, who m. Grace), 
Gov. of Conn. 2 terms — U. S. Senator. 

I. Henry Fowler English, b. June S, 1851/ 
other issue dec. 

I. Grace Fowler m. Sept. 16, 1839, Henry, 
s. of James and Nancy Griswold English, b. Sept. 
4, 1816; d. July 5, 1847— I. 

I. Benjamin Rice English, b. Feb. 26, 1842. 
Pres. Board of Selectmen New Haven ; ex-Pres. 
Board of Fire Commissioners; m. May 17, 1866, 
Theresa Henrietta Farren — i. 

I. James Edward, b. Sept. 17, 1868 — 2. 
Benjamin Farren, June 25, 1873 — 3. (jrace Lou- 
isa, b. Sept. s, 1877. 

3. Charles Fowler, d. 1883. Many years 
City Eng. of N. H. 

ii. Nancy, b. 1783; d. May 19, 1824. 
iii. Timothy Parkman, b. 1785; d. April J, 

1825, unm. 

iv. Charles, b. Feb. 26, 1795; m. 1821, Rhoda 
A. Thomas, of Mass.; rem. to Maine; merchant; 
she d. Nov. 10, 1835. 

1. Charles Thomas, b. Feb. 6, 1829; drowned 
in East River April 14, 1834. 

2. Betty P., b. Oct. 29, 1826. 

3. Emeline, b. Feb. 3, 1828; d. Feb. 8, 1854. 

4. George R., b. July 18, 1831, unm. 

5. Mary A., b. June 27, 1833. 

6. Rhoda A., b. Oct. 17, 1835. 

V. Ailing, b. Mar. 13, 1797; d. N. H., May 
29th, 1866; m. 1829, widow Phebe Pratt. (2) 
1841, Susan Blackman. 

1. Julia Ann, b. Mar. 16, 1835. 

2. Frederick Augustus, b. May I, 1845 1 d. 
July 28, Sm. 

3. George Pratt, b. Dec. 21, 1846. 

4. Alonzo Augustus, b. Dec. 23, 1846; mer- 
chant ; m. Nov. 19, 1868, Emma Benton, of New 
Haven. Mr. Townsend, who is a staunch Re- 
publican, was elected a member of the Board of 
Common Council of New Haven for the gth ward 
in 1882 ; and in 1883 an Alderman for the same 
ward for the term of 2 years. Mr. T. is a Deacon 
of the Dwight Place Church, and has held other 
important offices of trust. 

I. Herbert Benton, b. Oct. 8, 1877—2. 
Mabel Cornelia, b. May 15, 1879 — 3. Roger Ai- 
ling, b. Sept. 2, 1882. 

5. Edward, b. Sept. 28, 1S49. 

6. Emily Maria, b. April 11, 1855. 

vi. William, b. June 16, 1799; m. Mar. 12, 

1826, Maria Miles McNeil; b. 1797; d. April 20, 
1831— (2.) Mar. II, 1832, in Trinity Church, N. 
H., Rebecca Trowbridge, b. Nov. 8, 1798; d. in 
N. H. Mr. Townsend is a gentleman of marked 
ability and has held many important offices of 
trust. Is Senior Warden of Christ Church, New 
Haven. 

1. William Miles, b. Jan. 12, 1827; d. June, 
1830. 

2. Susan Maria, b. June 31, 1829; m. Jan. 
24, 1842, Albert Mix died at Macon, Georgia, 
Mar. 26, 1882. 

1. Albert Townsend, b. Sept. 14, 1854. 

2. William Miles, b. Macon, Georgia, Dec. 
28, 1858. 



36 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



3. Harry Crosswell, b. Macon, Jan. 11, 
1861. Charles, Mary, Maria, Anne, John, of 
whom in 1884 Haro', Anne and John survive. 

3. William Miles, b. April I, 1831 ; m. Ma- 
con, April 22, 1857, Martha Anne Bond, dau. of 
Elijah Bond, Esq., merchant and president of the 
Manufacturer's Bank of Macon, Georgia. During 
the war for southern rights and recognition he 
served with the Confederate Army, entering the 
service in Dec, 1861, as Junior ist Lieut, of the 
Napier Battery of Light Artillery, General W. H. 
T. Walker's Brigade, from which he was trans- 
ferred to the Engineer Corps of General Joseph 
Johnston, where he remained until the surrender 
of that brilliant chieftain. :Mr. Townsend writes 
the compiler; "The house in w^hich I was born 
was formerly the barn of Benedict Arnold, who 
achieved distinction as a soldier and notoriety as 
a traitor in the Revolution episode with England. 
Here is a concatenation as it were of "Good 
Friday," "All Fool's Day," "Benedict Arnold," 
and a "Tow^nshend." He m. (2) Ellen Amelia, 
only surviving daughter of Dr. Thomas Dutton 
of Milford, Conn., b. July nth, 1842. /. by ist m. 

1. Grace Wylie, b. Macon, Ga., Jan. 21, 
1S61. 

!. by 2d m. : 

2. Ellen Dutton, of New Haven, June 18, 

3. Isabel Dutton, of New Haven, Mar. 21, 
1872. 

4. Alice Rebecca Dutton, b., N. H., Feb. 
21, 1882. 

4. Henry Alonzo, d. Mar. i, 1841. 

5. Charles Timothy, b. Oct. 17, 1833; m. 
Oct. 24, 1855, Elizabeth Augusta Ford, who d. 
.\pril 17, 1861, a. 27— (2.) Adela Josephene 
Barnes, IMay 20th, 1863. 

I. Charles Edwin, b. July i, 1866. 

6. James Edwin, b. Dec. 10, 1835; d. Oct. 

18, 1853. „ , ^ , 

7. Emily Rebecca, b. Oct. 20, 1837 ; d. Feb. 

5, 1844. 

Kneeland, s. of Isaac Townsend (8), p. 59; b. 
in Stratford, Conn.; m. Dec. 12, 1789, Susanna 
Thompson, who d. at Milan, O., April 6, 1842; 
a 74, s. i. 

Jacob, s. of Isaac Townsend (8), p. S9. b. 
Stratford, Conn., April 10. 1769; sometime in 
shipping bus. in New Haven, firm of GiUet & 
Townsend. Mr. Townsend about the year 1804 
freighted a vessel at New Haven with a complete 
outfit for a country store and sailed for Matta- 
masket, North Carolina. He also took several 
ship carpenters and there cut timber and built 
the ship "Keziah," which, when completed, he 
loaded with lumber, naval stores and re-embarked 
the poods from the store unsold, and sailed for 
the West Indies, where the cargo and goods 
were exchanged in part for a return cargo which 
he sold in New Haven at a good profit. He was 
a large owner in the Derby Fishing Co., and on 
account of losses by the Milan Decree and Em- 
bargo, settled his Connecticut business and rem. 
to Lcwiston, Niagara Co., N. Y., jn 1808, and in 



company with Hon. Alvin Bronson, afterwards the 
first mayor of Oswego, and Capt. Sheldon 
Thompson, who had commanded the ship "Ke- 
ziah" (Townsend, Bronson & Co.), engaged in 
transportation and trading on tlie lakes. 

Mr. Townsend was part owner of the schooner 
Erie, the first vessel that passed through the 
Welland canal. Two of his vessels, "Gov. Tomp- 
kins," and the "Fair American," were in Com. 
Chauncey's Fleet in the war of 1812 and at the 
close of the war were bought of the U. S. Gov. by 
Mr. Townsend's firm and resumed the transpor- 
tation business. He bought a fine estate of 300 
acres on the heights above Lewiston, on which 
a battery was erected (Fort Gray) and a regiment 
of riflemen quartered in war of 1812-14. At 
burning of Lewiston, his store, before mentioned, 
was destroyed. In 1S48 he rem. to Buffalo, and 
d. there at the house of his son-in-law J. C. 
Evans, Esq., May 7, 1852, a. 83 yrs. He m. July 
1798, Betsy, dau. of Sheldon Clark, of Derby, 
Conn. (2.) Feb., 1S06, Eunice, dau. of Eldad At- 
water, of N. H.; b. Oct. 30, 1781; d. Buffalo, 
Aug. 2, 1848. 

i. Kneeland, b. Derby, Conn., April 16, 1800; 
d. Lewiston; m. at L., July i, 1821, Caroline, dau. 
of Hon. Gideon Frisbie; b. Johnstown, N. Y., 
JMay 15, 1804; d. at Milan, O., 1873, i. at L. 
While living Mr. T. compiled for the writer more 
than 50 pages of reminiscences of New Haven 
and its environs. 

1. Kneeland, b. May 14, 1823; m. 

and had : 

I. Arthur K., b. Sept. 5, 1857—2. Har- 
riet M., b. June 14, 1859- 

2. Elizabeth F., b. Aug. 7, 1827; d. Newark, 
N. Y., Aug. 5, 1840. 

3. Jacob B., b. June 20, 1824; d. on Lake 
Erie, Nov. 7, 1S44; bu. Sandusky, O. 

4. Harriet, b. Sept. 25, 1S28; d. Milan, O., 
Jan. 6, 1847. 

5. William C, b. :Mar. 31, 1830; d. Aug. 

5. 1831- 

6. Susan P., b. Sept. 6, 1832; d. Mar. 

30, 1848. 

7. William R., b. Gaines, N. Y., April 15, 
1833; d. Victor, N. Y., Aug, 1834. 

8. Mary Anne, b. V. Aug. 7, 1834; d. M. 
Feb. 28, 185 1 ; m. George Wood. 

I. Caddie, b. Sept. 5, 1857. 

9. Dorothea, b. V. Oct. 27, 1835; d. M. 
July 28, 1850, 

10. Sarah, b. Newark, N. Y., June 28, 1844; 
d. Feb. 7. 1845- 

ii. Sheldon Clark, b. N. H., Jan. 18, 1802; 
m. at Niagara Falls, Mar. 14, 1824. Rachel, dau. 
of SamueXand Mary Tompkins, of Niagara, N. 
Y,; b. Westchester Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1803— 
res. Lewiston. "To-, this gentleman now (1884) 
living, the compiler is indebted ior many historical 
and genealogical facts and his genealogy of this 
branch- of the family. Mr. Townsend's well-spent 
life has been devoted to the noblest works of man, 
having held many offices of trust, notwithstanding 
his business relations. He has for many years 
officiated as a "Local Preacher" in the Methodist 



37 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Episcopal Church, a class of men much appreci- 
ated in Frontier settlements. 

I. Samuel, b. Jan. 14, 1825 ; m. Feb. 13, 
1850, Susan, dau. of Thomas and Fanny Pool : b. 
L. Dec. 3, 1828. i. 

I. Fanny, b. Feb. 15, 1851; 2. Kate E., 
b. May 13, 1853. 

3. George, b. Oct. 15, 1855; d. Mar. 
10, 1857. 

4- James S., b. Feb. 10, 1855^-5. Charles 
E., b. Mar. 5, 1863 ; d. Jan. 29, 1864—6. William 
C, b. Oct. 2, 1866. 

2. Charles A., b. Aug. 7, 1828; enlisted Co. 
F. 21 Reg. Ind. Vols. ; was disabled and dis- 
charged at Baltimore, Md. ; returned home and d. 
J. i. July 9, 1862; m. Caroline Button of Cam- 
bria, N. Y. 

3. Anna, b. Ap. 27, 1832; d. May 28, 1836. 

4. Jane A., b. Ap. 29, 1834; m. William B. 
Cook of Cambria. 

I. Mary E. 2. Sheldon N. 3. Sarah R. 
4. Laura V. 

iii. Charles A., d. inf., bur. at Carlisle, N. Y., 
on journey to Buffalo, where his father settled. 

iv. Lydia Ann, b. Lewiston, 1815. Now 
living, 1884. 

V. Jane A., b. July 19, 1814; m. Aug. 25th, 
1834, James C. Evans, Esq., merchant and founder 
of the Evans Line of steamboats plying on the 
Lakes. She d. at Lewiston, Ap. 29, 1870, a. 56. 

1. Edwin Townsend, b. Oct. 11, 1837. A 
leading merchant and banker of Buffalo, N. Y., 
and largely interested in Lake Commerce. 

2. George Atwater, b. May 22, 1842; d. 
Mar. 19, 1844. 

3. Mary Jane, b. Mar. 16, 1845. 

4. Ella Kate, b. Ap. 26, 185 1. 

vi. Mary, m. William Hotchkiss, of L. ; b. 
Clinton, Oneida Co., i8og — moved to Lewiston 
1815 — became wealthy. He was a man of great 
public spirit ; d. of apoplexy Mar., 1875. Had I, 
Eugene ; 2, Charles Townsend ; 3, Lander W. ; 
4, Seth C, S, George A. 

vii. Eunice Atwater, d. Buffalo, Aug. 2, 1848. 
Sarah Townsend, b. Jan. 23, 1776, dau. of Isaac 
Townsend (8), p. 59; d. May I, 1844; m. Joel 
Atwater; b. Nov. i, 1769. 

i. Frederick Isaac Atwater, d. unm. 

Ji. William Townsend Atwater, d. unm. 

iii. Harriet Maria Atwater, d. y. 

iv. Harriet Maria Atwater — 5. Eliza Ann. 

V. Grace Ann Atwater, m. Abraham Mur- 
dock, and residence Columbus, Miss. 

vi. Elizabeth Ann Atwater, m. Geo. M. 
Blakeslee, Esq., of North Haven, Conn. 

William Townsend, b. May 12, 1781, youngest 
son of Isaac Townsend (8), p. 59. merch. in 
New Haven with his brothers I. K. & Jacob 
Townsend. He rem. abt. 1815 to Sandusky, O., 
and became one of the first merchants of the 
place. He was largely interested in transporta- 
tion on the Great Lakes ; one of the first to 
introduce steam between Buffalo and Sandusky. 
Had valuable stores and warehouses and wharves 
at the latter place, and a branch house at Milan, 



Ohio. He d. July 27, 1849; m. Aug. 28, 1824, 
Maria Lampson, b. Burlington, Vt., Mar. 18 

loOI J ' 

i. Mary Elizabeth, b. May 20, 1825 ; m Au'' 
7, 1844, Pitt Cook, Esq., firm of Jay Cook & Co" 
bankers, who negotiated a loan of $300,000,000 
tor the U. S. Government, and who built the 
northern Pacific R. R. 

ii. Emily Augusta, b. Feb. 16, 1827; m. Oct 
20, 1846, G. W. Pritchard of N. Y. C 

iii. Sarah Maria, b. Aug. 17, 1829; d. 

iv. Sarah Maria, b. Aug. 15, 1832'; d. Aug. 
I, 1049- 

T<?rq'''ri^"f''" l^W;^- ,^°''- ^°' '^^S; m. Aug. 18, 
1858, Charles B. Wright. 

vi. Julia Ann, b. May 30, 1837; m. Thomas 
A. Jacobs. 

yii. William Kneeland Dell, b. Jan. 3, 1840 
vni. Louisa Eugenia, b. July 13, 1845. 

Elizabeth Mary Townsend, b. Feb. 18, 1798 (p 60 
—Jeremiah, Isaac, Isaac) ; m. Nov. 26, 1821, Isaac 
Beers. 

i. Jane Townsend Beers, 
ii. John Phelps Beers, druggist. New Haven, 
Conn. ; m. Miss Sanford of Newtown, Conn. t. 
I. Charles, m. and has fam. 
in. Charles Ives Beers, of Chicago, 111., 1884 
merchant and capitalist, 
iv. Wm. Isaac Beers. 

V. Jane Maria Beers, m. Wm. Evans of Buf- 
falo, merchant and manufacturer, 
vi. Emma Eliza Beers. 

Isaac Atwater and Charles, chil. of Isaac 
Townsend (9), p. 60; d, June 30, 1803, and bu. 
side by side in the same grave. 

Isaac Henry, Prof. Yale College, see p. 59-60 

Jane Maria. 

Geo. Atwater, s. of Isaac Townsend (9) (p 
DO)' "1- (0 Jiihet Sanford; (2) June 24th, 1853, 
Mildred Parker, had /. He was many years a 
leading Dry Goods merchant (Hook and Towns- 
end) of New York, President Continental Bank, 
N. Y. ' 

i. Geo. Parker, who m. Mar. ist, 1873, Mary 
Josephine Caffrey. Ch : Mildred Agnes, Paul 
Donald, Maud Josephine, 
ii. Mildred. 
iii. Emily. 

Emily Augusta, dau. of Isaac Townsend (9) (p. 
60), m. the Hon. David Sanford of Sandy Hook, 
Newtown, Conn., extensively engaged in manu- 
factures, and had 

i, John Townsend Sanford. He is the Gen- 
eral Traffic manager of the Chicago and Rock 
Island R. R. He m. Harriet Mills, of San- 
dusky, O. 

ji. William Sanford m. and has t. 

iii. George Sanford d. y. 

iv. Paul Sanford. 

V. Jane Sanford, m. Rev. Mr. Moore, and 
has a son. 

vi. Grace Sanford d. y. 



38 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



DESCENDANTS OF EBENEZER 
TOWNSEND. 

Ebenezer Townsend, b. Boston, Mass., June 25, 
1716; (p. 57 Isaac, Samuel, Thomas,) with 
brother Jeremiah removed to New Haven, Conn., 
May 20, 1739. He was a builder and built the 
old court or colony house on the New Haven 
Green. He d. Dec. 30, 1775. Son Ebenezer admr., 
bond ^300 and was authorized to sell the real 
estate in 1777. He m. Boston, Sept. 19, 1738, 
Elizabeth Larmon, b. Sept. 6, 1718; d. in N. H. 
Aug. 30, 1784. 7 chil. b. in N. H. 

i. Ebenezer, b. Sept. 2; d. Sept. 23, 1739. 
ii. Sarah, b. Nov. 14, 1740; d. Sept. 22, 1802. 

16. iii. Ebenezer, b. July 27, 1742. 

iv. Solomon, b. Oct. 3, 1744; d. in N. H. ; 
m. — and had 

I. Elijah, rem to Phil. 
- V. Betsey, b. Oct. 2, 1746; d. s. p., 1820; m. 
Capering; rem. to N. Y. State. 

17. vi. Robert, b. Aug. 14, 1748. 

vii. Jeremiah, b. Sept. 29, 1751; d. Aug. 
14. 1752. 

viii. Elias, b. May 25, 1754; rem. to Maine. 
ix. Hezekiah, b. Mar. 9, 1755. 
X. Anna, b. June 24. 1756; d. 1837; m. Dan- 
iel Goffe Phipps, merchant of New Haven, Conn. 
xi. .-Kbigail, b. Nov. 5, 1758; m. Good- 
win ; rem. to Poughkeepsie. 
.xii. Julia, b. Apr. 6, 1760. 

Ebenezer Townsend,!^ b. July 27, 1742; d. N. 
H.. July 21. 1824; will dated Nov. 30, 1812, names 
wf. Thankful Sophia — dau. Sarah Howe, wf. of 
Hezekiah — s. Elihu — dau. Grace, wf. of Nathan 
Starr, and such chil. of s. Ebenezer as may be 
living at my death. S.-in-Iaw Howe and son 
Elihu, exec'rs, but being found insolvent, com- 
missioners were appointed to administer the est.; 
James and Isaac Townsend, creditors. A pew in 
the North Church appears in the inv., valued 
at $200. 

He m. Mar. 18, 1768, Eunice, dau. of Caleb and 
Mehitable (Mix) Atwater b. Sept. 10, 1736; d. 
July 25, 1784. (She was wid. of Phineas Cook, 
by whom she had a dau. Eunice, who m. June 14, 
1780, Capt. Stephen Dummer, and had Phineas 
Cook Dummer. Sarah Atwater. sis. of Eunice, 
m. Samuel Street, and was mother of Titus Street 
of N. H.) 

He m. (2) Nov. 20. 1785, Thankful Sophia, 
dau. of Ebenezer and Thankful (Nichols) Bar- 
nard of Hartford, bap. at house of Nathan Starr, 
Mar. 24, 175 1. She was wid. of Rev. Allyn 
Mather of N. H., by whom she had Allyn. a 
lawyer, and afterwards a ship builder, and Sophia. 
Her bro. Timothy Barnard was father of Hon. 
Daniel Dewey Barnard, LL.D., U. S. Minister to 
Prussia. 1849-53. She d. in N. H., Aug. 19. 1828. 

Mr. Townsend was known at one time as the 

Great Merchant of New Haven, his ships making 

voyages to China and London from New Haven. 

i. Sally, b. May 25, 1769; d. Dec. 20, 1772. 

ii. Son, b. Jan. 15; d. Jan. 17, 1771. 

iii. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 24, 1773; he was a 

merchant, banker and ship owner; he d. in 111. 



Nov. 29, 1853. See his voyage in ship Neptune, 
Capt. Daniel Green, to the South Seas and home 
to New Haven, via Sandwich Islands and China. 
He m. abt. 1803 Clarissa Mix, who d. in N. H., 
1812. 

1. Emily, d. 1863 ; m. 1830 Edward L., s. of 
Elihu Mix, sea capt., b. 1802; d. 1880. 

1. Edward Townsend Mix, b. in New 
Haven, Conn., 1835, architect of Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin, and possesses the log of the Neptune, the 
first .American ship that circumnavigated the globe 
while on a trading and sealing voyage, and 
owned by his great grandfather and Isaac and 
Kneeland Townsend, his cousins, and her Cap- 
tain, Daniel Green; (the log was kept by his 
grandfather Ebenezer Townsend.) He m. Mary, 
dau. of John Hayes, a 2d cousin of President 
Hayes. 

2. Clara Mix. 3. Fannie Mix. 4. Em- 
ily Mix, m. James Baldwin. 5. Anne Mix. 

2. Maria, d. unm. 

3. Edward, d. y. 

iv. Sally, b. Oct. 16, 1776; d. Cleveland, O., 
May 29, 1841; m. Oct., 1801. Hezekiah, s. of 
Hezekiah and Hannah (Beers) Howe. He was 
a posthumous child b. 1775 ; d. May, 1838. He 
was for 50 years a bookseller in N. H. Brig. 
Gen'l of Conn Militia, and during the war of 
1812-14 was military commandant of N. H. i. 

1. Ebenezer, b. Sept., 1802; d. Jan. 26. 1S19. 

2. Clarissa, b. 1803 ; d. 1S73 ; m. Sept. 20, 
1825, Alfred, s. of Gen'l Nathaniel and Catharine 
(Wadsworth) Terry, b. 1802, Y. C. 1821 ; d. in 
N. H. i860 — His sis. Catharine Terry was the 2d 
wife of Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon. 

1. Clara Howe Terry, b. Sept., 1826. 

2. Alfred Howe Terry, b. Nov. 10, 1827; 
grad. Yale Law School ; Brig. Gen'l U. S. A. ; 
unm. He commanded the land forces at the 
capture of Fort Fisher. 

3. Harriet Wadsworth Terry, b. Feb. 2, 
1829; many years a teacher in N. H., and for 
seven years Lady Principal of Vassar Female 
College ; unm. 

4. Adrian Terry, b. Sept. 12, 1831; was 
on StafT of Gen. A. H. Terry in the war, with 
the rank of Col. 

5. Jeremiah Wadsworth Terry, b. May 25, 
1833; M.D., was surgeon in 22d Conn. Vols. 

6. Robert Goldsborough Terry, b. Sept. 
27, 1837. 7. Eliza Howe Terry, b. Jan. 29, 1840. 
8. Frances Terry, b. Jan. 10, 1843. 9. Frederick 
Terry, b. Ap. 15, 1845. lO- Jane Russell Terry, 
b. Dec. 4, 1846. 

3. Jane Howe, b. Dec. 14, 1807 ; m. May 
30, 1837, Moses Kelly, b. Groveland, N. Y., 1809; 
d. Cleveland, O.. 1870; lawyer. 

I. Frank Howe. 2. Jane Eliza. 3. Mar- 
garet Sterling. 4. Geo. Daniel. 5. Mary Sarah. 
6 Clara Howe. 

4. Francis Howe, b. Jan. 8, iSii; d. in 
Chicago, 111., Aug., 1850. Educated at West Point 
Mil. ."Vcad. Sometime Secretary of the Chicago 
and Galena R. R. Co. ; m. 1841, Rove Victore 
Bailley, of mixed French and Indian extrac- 
tion, i. 



39 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



1. Rose Bailley Howe, b. 1842; educ. at 
Cath. Con. near Terre Haute, Ind. Author of 
A Visit to the Miraculous Lady of Lourdes, and 
a much valued contributor to the catholic press, 
for which she earned the title of "defender of 
the faith." She d. unm. 

2. Frank Howe, d. y. 3. Eleanor Howe, 
d. y. 4. Frances Howe (dau.), author of Louisa 
Lateatt, and contributor to catholic publications; 
unm. 

S- Ann Howe, b. May 14, 1S13 ; unm. 

6. Henry Howe, b. Oct. II, 1S16; author of 
sixteen books, among which are several State 
Historical collections. See Alibone's, also Drake's 
Biog. Diet. He m. Sept. 8, 1847, Frances A., 
dau. of Uri and Charlotte (Stow) Tuttle, b. 
N. H., Jan. 28, 1821—!. 

I. Frances Charlotte Howe. 2 Clara 
Howe. 3. Frank Henry Townsend Howe. 4. 
Charles Tuttle Howe. 

7. Eliza Howe, b. Sept. 29, 1819; d. May 
8, 1837. 

V. Caleb Atwater, b. Ap. 27, 1779; d. .j. j. 
Ap. 24, 1858, in N. H. m. June. iSoi, Nancy 
Barney, who d. July 7, 1865, a. 84. He was a 
man of marked ability, and commanded the ship 
"Clarissa," an East Indian merchantman; also 
other vessels in the European and West India 
service. His statements to Jacob Townsend of 
the condition of the Derby Fishing Company, 
accompanied with a scheme to revive it, show a 
marked ingenuity. 

vi. Elihu. b. Dec. 6, 1786; d. in N. Y. C, 
1853. Firm of Nevins and Townsend, stock bro- 
kers. He was one of the founders and first 
directors of the N. Y. and Erie R. R. Co., of the 
N. Y. and New Hav. R. R. Co., and a director 
of the New Jersey Central R. R. Co. He m. 
Eliza Nevins of Norwich, Conn. 

1. Russell. 

2. Eliza, m. Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., 
of N. Y. C. 

3. Mary, m. Charles Davis (2) Dr. Mayo, 
U. S. N. 

4. Frederick. 

5. George. 

v-i. Grace, b. Aug. 28, 1789; d. Aug. 16, 1855; 
m. June 25, 1810, Nathan, s. of Nathan and Polly 
(Pomeroy) Starr, b. Middletown, Conn., Feb. 20, 
1784; d. thr. Aug. 31, 1852. He was a sword 
manufacturer. 

1. Mary Elizabeth, b. Ap. 14; d. Aug. 
13. 1811. 

2. Elihu William Nathan, b. Aug. 10, 1812; 
many years town clerk of Mid., and during the 
war Ad. Gen'l of Conn. Mil. ; m. Harriet Wet- 
more Bush ; several chil. See Starr Book. 

3 Mary Elizabeth, b. Jan. 21, 1815; m. Dr. 
Brewer. 

4. Ebenezer Townsend, b. Aug. 18, 1816; 
m. Almira, dau. of Chas. and Almira Strong BaD- 
cock, b. Hrtf., Conn., Sept. 24, 1824; d. N. Y., 
Oct. 17, 1872. 

1. Mary Townsend Stan, t May 19, 
1845; d. N. Y. C, Jan. 4. 1848. 

2. Almira Starr, b. N. Y., Dec. 19, 1849. 



5. Henry, b. June 28, 1818; d. Oct. 2, 1819. 

6. Emily Helen, b. June 5, 1820; m. Sam- 
uel Ward. 

7. Grace Ann, b. Mar. 20; d. Oct. 3, 1822. 

8. Grace Anna, b. Aug. 16, 1823 ; m. Chas. 
Dyer (2) James Peck. 

9. Henry Ward, b. May 30, 1826. 

10. Frederick Barnard, b. July 2, 1829. 

11. Edward Pomeroy, b. July 19, 1832; d. 
Oct. 12, 1835- 

I. Robert Townsend (17), b. Aug. 14, 
1748; d. N. H., Nov. 19, 1806; merch't; m. July 
19, 1771, Hannah, dau. of John White, who d. 
Sept. 20, 1803. The following lines, taken from 
his mounment in the Grove street Cemetery, New 
Haven, Conn., bespeak his sterling character : 

"This spot contains the Ashes of the just 
Who sought no honor and betrayed no trust. 
This truth he proved in every path he trod, 
An honest man the noblest work of God." 

18 i. Amos, b. June 5, 1773. 
ii. Polly, t May 16, 1775 ; d. in Meadville, 
Pa., Jan. i, 1855; m. Amos Benedict and had 

I. Willis. 2. Mary Ann. 3. Jennette C. 
4. Charles. 5. Amos T. 6. Frederick. 7. 
Robert T. 8. Wm. T. 9. Emily. 10. Eliza- 
beth. 
19 iii. Larmon, b. July 19, 1777. 

iv. Betsey, b. June 6, 1779; d. July 6, 1828; 
unm. 

V. Eli, b. June 10, 1782 ; m. June 10, 1804, 
Abigail, dau. of Stephen and Margaret Hall 
Trowbridge, b. Feb. 15, 1783; d. May 19, 1833. 

1. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 12, 1805 ; d. Jan. 17, 
1835 ; m. April 25, 1824, Nathan Peck of N. H., 
b. Feb. 6, 1802. Pres. Merchants Bank. He was 
run over by horse and wagon while crossing the 
street near his residence and d. about a week 
after, Jan. 26, 1882. Inv. $301,000. He was for 
many years interested in foreign commerce and 
railroads and manufactories. 

1. Julia Caroline, b. Feb. 26, 1825; d. 
Mar. 7, 1847. 

2. Robert, b. June 24. 1S26; Y. C. 1847; 
merchant; banker; treasurer New Haven Colony 
Historical Society. 

3. Mariette, b. Aug. 16, 1828; d. at Pa- 
latka, Fla., Mar. 13, 1854. 

4. Margaret Townsend, b. !\Iar. 23, 1831 ; 
m. June 15, 1858, Robert Stone, M.D., of N. Y. 
4 chil. I. Louisa M. 2. Margaret. 3. Robert 
Cameron. 4. Amy Sigourney. 

5. Ellen Waldron, b. Feb. 16. 1833; d. 
Feb. 23, 1835. 

2. Margaret Hall, b. April 12, 1807. 

3. Grace, b. Mar. 6, 1809; m. Sept. 7, 1805, 
James Whitney Carrington, b. May 6. 1S09. 4. 
chil., of whom : Grace Elizabeth, Adella Trow- 
bridge, Edith Bissel. 

I. James Morrison, b. July 22, 1836; m. 
Aug. I, i860, Adelia Ellen Case, res. Astoria, N. 
Y. 3 chil. 

vi. Hannah, b. Mar. S, 1784; d. Mar., 1873; 
m. Feb. i, 1807, Asa Bradley of N. H., merch., b. 
E. Hav., July 19, 1781 ; d. Aug. I, 1859. 



40 



T O \V N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



I. Robert Townsend, b. Mar. 22, 1808; d. 
TuW 2^, 1S09. _ . _ 

•^ ^ 2 Elizabeth Ann, b. Feb. 17, 1810. 

3. Mary White, b. Dec. 26, 1811. 

4. Sarah S., b. June 9, i«'4; d. Sept. 10, 

'^'^'S. WiUiam T., b. June 16 1816; d. 1880; 
m. Apr. 10, 1839. M:i>-y Ann Canfield. 

1 Helen Townsend, b. Ap. 23,^ 1842. 

2 Willis Benedict, b. Dec. 10, 1^547- 

4 Edward Sterling, b. Aug. 21, 1856. 

6. Sarah, b. July 15, 1818. 

7. Charles, b. June 20, 1820; d Aug. Son. 

8. Augustus M., b. Dec. 23, 1821 ; d. June 

^' ' 'g. Henry, b. Sept. 4, 1823 ; d. June 15 1859. 

vii Robert, b. May 8, 1786; mfcht; d. May 

19, 1814; m. Sally Ford of N. H., b. Sep. 29, 

1784; d. Ap., 1858. T ■ ir 

1. Julia A., b. Ap., 1809; m. Lunus K. 
Dow, druggist, Ap., 1S30. 

1. Juha T., b. Mar. S> 1831- 

2. Virgil M., b. Ap. 14, iS33- 

2. Caroline, b. May, 1810; d. 1813. 

3. Robert, b. 1812; d. 1835. v, v . 
viii Nancy, b. Ap. 29, 1788; d. Dundee, N. Y., 

m. Augustus Maltby. 

1. Theodore. 

2. Augustus. . c- u 
3 George W., b. Sept. 11, 1821, m. Sarah 

A Bogart, May 14, 1846. A much respected mer- 
chant of N. H. Mem. Board of Common Council, 
New Haven, and had 

I Theodore Augustus, b. Mar. 19, i»47, m- 
Emma D. Clark, Apr. 8, 18S2, issue Grace Sarah, 

Edith Rebecca. . o ,q.o ,^ 

2. Emily Williams, b. Nov. 8, 1848, m. 
Chas. E. Ailing, Oct. 22, 1873. issue Clnarles Ed- 
ward, Mary Eleanor, Percy Williams, Roger Ells- 

"^""r Eleanor Augusta, b. May 12, 1850, m. 
Henrv H. Benedict, Apr. 16, 1872, issue Henry 
Hoba'rt, Paul Maltby, Helen Margaret. 

4. George Ellsworth, b. Feb. 9, 1852, m 
Georgiana Morehouse, May, 1882, issue Maud 

Evelyn, May Violet. , , <- . o ,Qr<? 

5. Charles Townsend, b. Sept. 8, 185S. 

ix. William, b. Ap. 19. I790; d. Oct. 28, iSOS; 
m. Harriet Ford of N. H., b. June 14, 1789; d. 

^^' f '"'Harriet Ford, b. Jan. 3. 1815; d. June 

^' ' 2^' Caroline, b. Feb. 3. 1817. „ 

3. Eliza W'hite, b. Mar. 19, i8l9- 

i William H., b. Feb. i6, 1822; d. Sept. 

«8, 1851. , ^ Q , 

5. George Ezra, b. June 20, i82j. 

6. i^Iary Louisa, b. Mar. 25, 1828; d. Aug. 

'^' x^'willis, b. Feb. 0, 1792; d- Oct. 22, 1795- 
Amos Townsend (18), b. June S,.i773; at age 
of 12 went as cabin boy, was a ship master for 
abt 30 yrs., trading to the East and West Indies. 
He d in N. H.. Nov, 21, 1855; m- Oct. 15, 1795, 
Sally,' dan. of Hezekiah Howe, b. Feb. 22, 1773; 
d Feb 22 1826. She was sister of Gen 1 Heze- 



kiah Howe, who m. Sally Townsend, cousin of 
Amos. Captain Townsend commanded the ship 
"Frances Anne," of 250 tons burthen, which, with 
her consort, the "Clarissa," of about the same 
tonnage, made a long but prolitable pepper voyage 
to the Straits of Malacca. It seems that, en- 
couraged by the splendid results of the sealing 
and trading voyage which was closed up about 
the year iSoo, Ebenezer Townsend, Jr., htteci out 
these ships. The "Clarissa," a new ship, was 
named after his wife, and commanded by his 
brother Caleb At water Townsend, and the f ran- 
ees Anne," an old vessel, commanded by his 
cousin Capt. Amos Townsend. The Clarissa 
sailed in .May, and being coppered, made a quick 
passage out to Polo Penang where she loaded 
and called at the Prince of Wales Island to meet 
her con<;ort, the "Frances Ann," with orders, but 
after awaiting her arrival for a month, gave her 
up as lost, and sailed for home. The Frances 
Ann" sailed in June, and not being coppered and 
experiencing light winds and calms, was com- 
oelled to go out of her way "to water, and ar- 
rived at the Prince of Wales Island after a pass- 
age of 237 days, and 30 days after the Clarissa 
had sailed. She at once proceeded to Polo 
Penang, where Captain Townsend purchased 
block tin for ballast to the value of $4,000, and 
then negotiating bills on his owners and loaded 
the ship to her full capacity with pepper in bulk,, 
and took his departure for home, after six weeks 
detention. She was six months on the passage 
to New Haven, including a short stay at the 
Cape of Good Hope, and came m via Sandy 
Hook through the Sound without stopping. One 
morning about Oct. 1st, 1802 a ship appeared in 
the "offing" at New Haven (something like the 
the Phantom Ship) and continued her course up 
the harbor to her anchorage, when her owners 
recognized her as the "Frances Ann, w iich they 
had given up as lost. The pepper was landed at 
Green's Wharf, and the adventures of the two 
ships yielded the owners a profit of about $30,000. 
i. Elias Stillwell, b. July 10, 1796; d. Oct. 
24, 1820, unm. He was a banker. 

ii Amos, b. July 3. 1708— Cashier New Ha- 
ven Bank for 50 years, and never absent on ac- 
count of ill health a day. m. May 4, 1847, Melissa 
Hyde Huntington of Becket, Mass., b. March 13, 
1807 • of this gentleman's extraordinary ability as 
an accountant and financier too much cannot be 
said to his credit. „ ^ ^ 

I. Sarah Mehssa. b. May 5. 1849; d. Dec. 
9, 1861. Mr. Townsend adopted an orphan, iU- 
b'ert Donaldson Townsend, m. Mar. IS, 1854; Y. 
C 1875 ; of Norwich, Conn. 

iii. Infant s., b. July 13. 1800; d. next day. 
iv Sally, b. Sept. 30, 1801 ; d. Ap. 30, iSoS- 
V. Hannah M., b. Dec. i, 1803; d. Aug. 

''^' vi^^Robert, b. Mar. 12, 1806; d. Ap. 12, 1807. 
vii'. Julia Ann, b. Feb. 15, 1808; d. June 
3. 1809. 

viii. Emmeline, b. Mar. 11, 1810. 
ix Eliza Collis, b. Feb. 3. 1812; m. Sept. 10, 
1834 Abijah, s. of Abijah and Polly (Bassett) 



41 



TOVVNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Bradley of Derby, Conn., merch't: b. Sept. lo 
1806; d. Dec. 16, 1868. 

1. Helen Darling, b. June 9, 1835. 

2. Frank Howe, b. Sept. 20, 1S38; Y. C. 
1863; Prof, of Geology in Univ. of Tenn. Killed 
Mar. 27, 1S79, by caving of a gold mine in 
Nacochee, Ga. Author of several valuable scien- 
tific papers, among which is a geological map of 
the U. S., pub. 1876. Prof. Dana of Yale College 
said that his death was a great loss to geological 
science. At one time he became much interested 
in genealogy, and left among his papers a series 
of note books containing a collection of genea- 
logical notes of the Bradley family. He m. July 
15, 1867, Sarah M. BoUes, b. Aug. 6, 1836; had 
besides, several chil. who d. y. 

I. Anna Penfield, b. Aug. 23, 1868. 

3. Arthur, b. July, d. Aug. 1841. 
X. Sarah, Id. Mar. 20, 1815. 

Larmon Townsend (19), b. July ig, 1777; d. 
Middlebury, Conn., May 11, 1858, merchant; m. 
Hannah Gunn, b. Nov. 3, 1770 ; d. Nov. 22, i8oi 
— (i.) 1803. Submit Clarissa Byington, b. Dec. 
12, 1785; d. N. H. June 23, 1868. 

i. Willis, b. Nov. 29, 1796; d. Oct. 26, 1801. 

ii. Susan, b. Mar. 11, 1798; d. Oct. 21, 1801. 

iii. Sally, b. Jan. 9. iSoo; d. Oct. 21, 1801. 

iv. Larmon Gunn, b. Nov. 8, 1801 ; rem. to 

Geneva, N. Y., farmer, miller and trader; d. July 

23, 1870; m. Julia Bronson. 

1. Larmon Bronson. 

2. Julia Ann; m. Orlando Hurd. 

3. Samuel Henry, d. Oct. 30, i860. 

4. Mary Louisa, b. June 13, 1831; m. Au- 
gustus Moore, j. 

I. Nellie Louisa — 2. Julia Ann. 
V. Charles, b. July 7, 1804; d. Dec. 30, 1861 ; 
Nov. 28, 1826, Lucy Peck, b. Nov. 27, 1808; d. 
Dec. 2, 1S60. 

1. George Larmon, b. Dec. i, 1827 ; d. June 
5,^ 1868 ; m. May 26, 1856, Emma R. Hurlburt of 
Waterbury, Conn. 

1. Lucy T. Hurlburt, d. Dec. 25, 1857. 

2. Ellen Roberts, b. Feb. 25, 1859. 

3. Emma Cook, b. May i, 1861. 

2. Sarah Cornelia, b. Aug. 23, 1829; m. 
Oct. 22, 1851, Edward L. Bronson, of Waterbury. 

1. Julia Maria, b. Sept. 14, 1852. 

2. Charles Bronson, b. and d. May, 1856. 

3. Cornelia L., b. Aug. 13, 1831; m. June 
27, 1854, Joel W. Scott. 

I. Charles, b. Oct. 26, 1856—2. Robert 
Ernest, b. Oct. 13, 1857. 3. Lucy Gertrude, b. 
July, 1861. 

4- John Henry, b. Feb. 28, 1833 ; m. May 
12, 1864, Isabella Wilson. 

I. Clara Elizabeth, b. May 4, 1865—2. 
' Afar.^aret Wilson, b. May 28, 1S67— 3. William, 
b. Feb. 21, 1869—4. Lucy, b. and d. 1871— 5. 
Charles, b. 1873. 

5- Susan, b. Aug. 22, 1835; d. Jan. 23, 1851. 

6. Charles, b. May 24, 1838; d. Aug. 12, 
ISSS- 

7. Helen Elizabeth, b. July 28, 1839; d. 
Aug. 9, 1864. 



8. Caroline Eliza, b. Oct. 12, 1842; d May 
2, 1871; m. May 27, 1866, WiUard F. Pardee 
of N. H. 

I. Edward Townsend, b. May 28, i860— 

2. Charles Bradley, b. Feb. 14, 187 1. 

9. Eleanor Clarissa, b. Ap. 12, 1845 

10 Juha Peck, b. Feb. 10, 1848; m. Sept. 13, 
1871, Walter B. Law. '^' 

1. Grace Easton, b. July 6, 1872 
. -\'; .Henry, b Ap. 23, 1805. Epis. clergyman 
in Wallingtord, Conn.; m. Emma Abbott. (2) 
Mary Walter. ^ ' 

1. Jane Bennett; m. William BuUard 

2. Mary Walter; m. Luther Wood. 

vii. Robert, b. Ap. 25, 1807; d. Jan. 23, 1808 
via. Robert, b. Oct. 26, 1808; banker; d. Oct. 

3, 1856 ; m. Elizabeth B. Harrison, who d Feb 
1857. 

1. Grace; m. Rev. Edward Furbish. 

IX. Clarissa A., b. Dec. 10, 1810; m. Sept 
1836, Joseph Downs, of N. H. 

or '„rl,°^'^P'""'^' ^- ^"§- 23. 1837; m. Sept. 10, 
1861, William W., s. of Col. Gardner Morse, b 
Nov. 24, 1837. 

2. Louisa Townsend, b. Sept. 21, 1840; m. 
David Corey. 

3. Henry Larmon, b. Sept. 20, 1842; assist 
surgeon U. S. N., res. New Orleans, La. 

4. Joseph Willis, b. Dec. 22, 1847; res. N. 
H. ; bookkeeper. 

X. Hannah Louisa, b. Sept. 7, 1812; d. Aue 
16, 1821. 

xi. Thomas, b. May 9, 1814; d. Jan, 3, 1855; 
m. Amanda Maria Bronson. 

1. Maria Louisa, b. July 11, 1838. 

2. Jeanette Bronson, b. June 16, 1840. 

3. William Bronson, b. Sept. 6, 1842 ■ m 
Dec. 23, 1863, Sarah Cornelia Bronson. 

I. Jennette Louisa, b. June 20, 1865. 
Colonial history mentions several of the names 
who emigrated from England to American col- 
onies in the 17th century, and as many of their 
descendants now claim the Norfolk famiHy as the 
"parent stem," the compiler cannot close this 
attempt to record his own family without making 
mention of them. The pioneers of these several 
families were :— Richardl of James-city, Virginia, 
1620; WilliamS of Boston, Mass., 1634; MartinS 
of Watertown, Mass., 1644; John Henry and 
Richard* (brothers), of New England and New 
York, 1640-50; Roberts of Portsmouth, New 
Hampshire, 1665; RichardG of Philadelphia, 1682; 
Joseph? of Philadelphia, 1712. [Several families 
of the same name have settled in this country 
since the year 1700.] 

The exact relationship these Townshends bore 
to each other has not yet been determined, but 
enough has been discovered by late researches in 
England to suggest that they were of the same 
family. A thorough search will perhaps connect 
all the American pioneers with the chief family 
of Raynham, Norfolkshire. 

1 Perhaps from County Warwick. 

2 Not a brother of Thomas of Lynn. 

3 Not a near relative of Thomas Townsend of 

Lynn. 



42 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



4 Perliaps 2d or 3d Cousin of Tho. Townsend 

of Linn. 

5 May have been the son of Tho. Townsend 

of Linn. 

6 Prob. from Go's Berkshire or Gloucester. 
' Nephew of Richard. 

The compiler has here made notice of the three 
brothers, John, Henry and Richard Townsend, 
of New England and New York, on account of a 
strong tradition that they were near cousnis of 
Thomas Townsend of Lynn, which tradition has 
numerous supports, which can only be proved by 
investigating the English records. It is a most 
interesting fact that living representatives of the 
English and American families of this name have 
been taken for the same persons in foreign cities, 
and had Dr. Chester of London lived (the learned 
American Genealogist who died in June last), 
there is little doubt that he would have in his 
"exhaustive search" found the link which con- 
nects these families to the chief branch of Rayn- 
ham, County Norfolk. 

E.\TR\CTS FROM "ThE DESCENDANTS OF RL\RTIN 

Townsend, of Watertown, Mass., by Martin 
L Townsend, of Troy^ N. Y. 

This branch of the Townsend family are pre- 
sumed to be descendants of William Townsend 
of Hinton-in-the-Hedges, a small parish of the 
County of Northampton, England, and of Martm 
' Brown of the same place. 

These two men must have been born as early as 

1550. Walter Townsend, son of William, m. 

Catherine Brown, dau. Martin, at Hinton, in 1592. 

They had: Richard, William, Martin, Peter, 

and John baptized 161 1. Martin, b. 1596, d. 1675. 

m., first, Katherine , by whom he had 

several children before 1629. After her death, he 

m., second, Julian . 

-They had: Martin, who d. in infancy, Mary, 
Ann, William, John, Sarali, and Nathaniel. 
At this time the revolt in England from both 
■ Church and State commenced, and the Church 
records became totally unreliable, but from cred- 
ible sources it was learned that Martin Town- 
send and his wife Julian had another son b. 1644, 
d. 1697, named Martin (2), who emigrated to 
Nathaniel, b. 1760. 
(By 2): 
■America and first settled in Watertown, Mass., 
where in 1669 he m. Abigail Train ; eventually 
becoming the head of his branch of the Townsend 
family in America. They had: 
Alartin. b. 1671, d. in infancy. 
Abigail, b. 1673, d. 1714. 
Martin (2), b. 1679. 
Jonathan, b. 1687, d. 1764. Moved to Hebron, 

Conn., m. . They had : 

David, b. 1 725, d. 1833. 

Martin, 

Amasa, 

Jesse, 

Richard, 

Timothy, 



Anna and another dau., name unknown. 

David lived and d. in Hebron, Conn., m, (l) 
Sarah Loomis, 1751. (2) m. Elizabeth Fowler, 
1761. They had (by l) : 

David, 

Jonathan, b. 1762. 

Jesse, b. 1776. 

Elizabeth, b. 1772. 

John, b. 1785, d. 1874, m. . They had: 

James H., who resides at Columbia, Conn., 
adjoining Hebron. 

John Rogers, b. Mar. 23, 1813, at Athens, O., 
d. June 25, 1847. Grad. from Athens State Uni- 
versity. AL . They had: 

Charles Henry, b. Sept., 1845, at Athens, O., 
who. after serving in the Civil War, came East 
and m. Rhoda Sophronia Taft, b. Feb., 1855 (dau. 
Thomas Jefferson Taft), at Ashford, Conn. They 
had ; 

Charles Frederick, b. in Mass. Feb. 11, 1873. 
Grad. from Lehigh University, South Bethle- 
hem, Pa., 1895. M. Florence Ellis Snow, June 
I, 1907. Mr. Townsend is a prominent young 
architect of the firm of Foote & Townsend, at 
New Haven, Conn. 

Compiled from Material furnished by the 

Hon. Henry C. Townsend, of Philadelphia, 

Pa., and Richard Hallet Townsend, 

Esq., of Baltimore, Md. 

Richard Townsend, of Cirencester, County 
Gloucester, England, had two sons, Richard and 
William. 

I. Richard, who was born in England, perhaps 
at Pangborne or Bucklebury, County Berks, 1644- 
5. He joined the Society of Friends, 3 mo. o d. 
1672; settled in London, 3 m. o d. 1676; married 
Anne Hutchins, 3 mo. 25 d. 1677. 

They had : Sarah, who m. James Bartlett. 

They had : Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, from New 
Hampshire. 

He came to Pennsylvania with William Penn 
in the ship "Welcome," and sailed from "the 
Downs" off Deal, England, and arrived at New- 
castle on the Delaware, Oct. 24, 1682. This Rich- 
ard Townsend was a carpenter and millwright 
and erected the first flour and saw mill in Penn- 
svlvania. Barber's Hist, of Penn., page 303, says: 
"About a mile and a half North-east of Chester 
on the left bank of Chester Creek and a short 
distance from the mill of Richard Flowerdews, 
there still exists a cottage built principally of 
brick, by Richard Townsend for the accommoda- 
tion of his family while he was erecting this the 
first mill in the province. They had : 

1. Hannah, born in England, 8 mo. 30 day 

16S0; m. Isaac Cook. 

2. James, born on board the "Welcome," in 

Delaware river (no datel, 1682. 
.1. Joseph, born S mo. 16 day, 1687. 
He died Jan. 28, 1732, at the house of his 
nephew, Joseph Townsend, at East Bradford, and 
was interred at Philadelphia. His widow Ann 
died Jan. 13, 1733. 



43 



T O \V N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



2. William, remained in County Berks, Eng- 
land, and married Mary,' and had (at least) one 
(perhaps other) sons. His eldest son, Joseph,- 
was born in Berkshire County, England, in 1684. 
In 1710 he (Joseph Townsend) married Martha 
Wooderson, who was born in 16S3. He was also 
a member of the Society of Friends, and with his 
wife and sister Joan also emigrated to Pennsyl- 
vania in 1712 and resided at Philadelphia and 
Old Chester, and finally settled near Westchester, 
Pa., in 1725, where he owned, also at East Brad- 
ford, several hundred acres of land, and at whose 
house his uncle Richard Townsend died. They 
had: 
John, b. 1716, who m. Joanna England. 
They had : 

William, b. 1748, m. Grace Loller, sister Col. 
Robert Loller, founder of the Loller Academy at 
Hatboro, Mont. Co. William Townsend was a 
delegate from Phila. Co. to the convention which 
framed the first Constitution of Penn., Sep. 28, 
1776. He joined the Continental Army under 
Washington and served in the battles of Trenton, 
Prmceton and Germantown ; was paymaster of 
the militia in Phila. Co., and a member of the 
Assembly in 1778-1779. 
They had : 

John W., b. Mar., 1789, d. Mar. 2, 1874, m. 
Sybilla Price. 
They had : 

Henry C, b. Feb. 22, 1822, d. May 24, 1899, m., 
1847, Georgiana Lawrence Talman, dau. James 
Townsend Talman and Mary Watson Lawrence 
of Flushing, L. L 
They had: 

Fanny, E. Price, Franklin, Harrison, Lawrence 
and Bertha. 

Henry C. Townsend was educated at Friends 
Westtown Boarding School. Chester Co., and at 
Belmar's Academy, West Chester, Pa. He en- 
tered Yale College in 1839, and was admitted to 
the Phila. Bar, 1884, and until his death was 
siiccessfully engaged in the chosen branches of 
his profession. Among the prominent corpora- 
tions for which he was counsel, is the Penn. Mu- 
tual Life Ins. Co., whose charters he prepared 
m 1847, and for which he was counsel nearly 
fifty years. _ He served as Mangr. and Director of 
rnany charitable and business corporations, in- 
cluding the Grandom Institution, the Preston Re- 
treat, and Phila. Home for Incurables, and as 
trustee of the Williamson Free School of Me- 
chanical Trades. 

Lawrence, b. Aug. 13, i860, Phila., Pa., m, 
iSS6. his second cousin, Natalie Hannan, dau. 
Ludovic Hannan and Sirah Redwood Price (dau 
Dr. Wdham Price of Cinn.. O., and Hanna Red- 
wood Fisher of Phila. was b. in Paris, France, 

lOOD. 

They had ; 

Yvonne, Lawrence Jr., and Reginald Nivens 
Fisher. 

.J-^^71^^'^^ Townsend acquired his education at 

the Mantua Academy near Philn.. and at the 

00 u *^""- ''^'"'^ 3 member of the class of 

1881, but owing to ill health resigned in to 



visit Europe, where he resided for a year, re- 
turning to become part owner of a cattle ranch 
m Colorado. After his marriage he spent sev- 
eral years in Europe studying foreign languages 
and international law. In 1893 he was appointed 
by President Cleveland as First Sec'y to the U S 
Emb'y at Vienna, Austria, frequently acting as 
Charge d Afifaires, until 1897, when he was pro- 
moted to fill the post of Envoy E.xtr'y and Min- 
ister Plen'y from the U. S. to Portugal, where 
he remained during the important period of the 
war between the U. S. of Am. and Spain. For 
services thus rendered, he was promoted in 1899 
to be En. E.xtr'y and Minister Plen'y to Belgium 
at Brussels, which position he resigned in 1905 to 
return to the U. S. and with his family reside in 
Washington, D. C. 

Joseph Brevitt Townsend, a lineal descendant 
of Joseph Townsend, who married Martha Wood- 
erson— married first, Mary Price. Issue: James 
Price and Eleanor Holliday, both deceased. Sec- 
ond, he married Adeline Eliza Barton. Issue- 
Joseph B., Jr., John Barton and Charles Cooper! 

Joseph B., Jr., married in 1885 Elizabeth 
Palmer Bispham. Issue: Joseph B., 3d., Mary 
Bispham, Katherine Adeline, Eleanor, Palmer 
William Henry Palmer and Charles Cooper, Jr! 

John Barton, married Elizabeth Williams. 
Issue: Marjorie Barton, Caspar Wister Barton 
and Anne Barton. 

Charles Cooper, is unmarried and lives in 
the old house, "Greystone," at Overbrook. 

The family own part of the original tract pat- 
ented by the proprietaries to Joseph Townsend 
1st. 

John W. Townsend, a cousin residing at Bryn 
Mawr, Mont. Co., Pa., possesses among his fam- 
ily deeds, one bearing a wax impression of a seal, 
the exact duplicate of the Crest used by the 
Marquis Townshend — date of deed, 1744. 

(From these gentlemen, uncle and nephew, de- 
scended the Townsends of Pennsylvania.) 

The Testimony of Richard Townsend.i show- 
ing THE Hand of God to him and others 

FROM THE first SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

TO THIS DAY. [About 1727.] 

Whereas, King Charles II. in the year 1681 
was pleased to grant this Province to Wm. Penn 
and his heirs forever, which Act seemed to be an 
act of Providence to many religious good people, 
and the Proprietor, Wm. Penn, being one of the 
people called Quakers, and in good esteem among 
them and others, many were enclined to embark 
along with him for the settlement of this place. 

To this end. in the year 1682, several ships 
being provided. I found a concern on my mind to 
embark with them with my wife and child: and 
about the end of the sixth month, having settled 
my affairs in London where I dwelt, I went on 
board the ship "Welcome," Robert Greenaway, 

1 This Richard Townsend embarked Sept. 1. 1682, in 
the Downs, off Deal, in England, on board the ship 
"Welonme." of 300 tons burthen. Capt. Robert Green- 
av.'ay. — See Hazard's Annals of Penn., page 593. 



44 




"KAVXIIAM." OXHKI'.KOOK. PEXN. 
Thf Siat of josipli Urtvitl 'rtnviiscnd. ,1 r 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Commander, in company with my worthy friend, 
\Vm. Pcnn,2 whose good conversation was very 
advantageous to our company. His singular care 
was manifested in contributing to the necessities 
of many who were sick of the Small Pox then 
on board, out of which company about thirty 
died. After a prosperous passage of about two 
months, having had in that time many good 
meetings on board, we arrived here. 

At our arrival we found it a wilderness, the 
chief inhabitance were Indians and a few Swedes 
who received us in a friendly manner, and though 
there was a great number of us, the hand of 
Providence was seen in a particular tnanner ; in 
that provisions were found for us by the Swedes 
and Indians at very reasonable prices as well as 
brought from divers other parts that were inhab- 
ited before. Our first concern vyas to keep up 
and maintain our religious worship, and in order 
thereinto we had several meetings in the houses 
of the inhabitance ; and one boarded meeting- 
house was set up where the City was. to be near 
Delaware, and as we had nothing but love and 
good-will in our hearts one to another, we had 
very comfortable meetings from time to time, and 
after our meetings were over we assisted each 
other in building little houses for our shelter. 

After a little time I set up a mill on Chester 
Creek, which 1 brought ready framed from Lon- 
don, which served for grinding the corn and 
sawing of boards, and was of great use to us. 
Besides, I with Joshua Tittery, made a net and 
caught great quantities of fish which supplied our- 
selves and many others ; so that notwithstanding it 
was though near three thousand people came in 
the first year, we were so providentially provided 
for that we could buy a deer for about two shil- 
lings, and a large turkey for about one shilling, 
and Indian corn for about two shillings and six- 
pence per bushell. And as our worthy Proprietor 
treated the Indians with extraordinary humanity 
they became very civil and loving to us and 
brought into us abundance of provisions. As in 
other countries the Indians were exasperated by 
hard treatment which hath been the foundation 
of much bloodshed, so the contrary treatment 
here has produced their love and affection. 

About a year after our arrival there came in 
about twenty families from high and low Ger- 
many, of religious good people, who settled about 
six miles from Philadelphia and called the place 
Germantown. The country continually increasing, 
people began to spread themselves further back. 
Also, a place called North Wales was settled by 
many of the Ancient Britons, an honest inclined 
people, although they had not then made a pro- 
fession of the truth as held by us. yet in a little 
time a large convincement was made among them 
and divers meeting houses were built. 

About the time Germantown was laid out I 
settled on my tract which I had purchased of 
the Proprietor in England about a mile from 
his Corn on him instead of a horse. Being now 

2 Wm. Penn died at Ruscombe, County Berkshire, 
.July 30, 1712. 



settled about six or seven miles from Philadel- 
phia, where lived the principal body of friends, 
together with the chief place for provisions. As 
before mentioned, flesh meat was very scarce 
with me for some time, of which I found a want, 
thence, where 1 set up a house and a corn mill, 
which was very useful to the country for several 
miles round. But there not being plenty of 
horses, people generally brought their corn on 
their backs many miles. I remember one man 
who had a Bull so gentle that he used to bring 
I remember I was supplied by a particular in- 
stance of Providence in the following manner: 

As I was mowing in my meadow a young deer 
came and looked on me. I continued mowing 
and the deer in the same attention, upon which I 
laid down my scythe and went towards him. 
Upon which he ran off a small distance. I went 
to my work again and the Deer continued looking 
on so that several times I left my work to go 
towards him, but he still kept himself at a dis- 
tance. At last I was going towards him and he 
looking on me did not mind his steps, but ran 
against a tree and stunned himself so much that 
he fell. Upon which I ran forward and getting 
on him held him by the legs. After a great 
struggle in which I had all most fired him out 
and rendered him lifeless. I threw him on my 
shoulders, holding him fast by the legs and with 
some difficulty from his fresh struggling, carried 
him home about a quarter of a mile to my house, 
where by the assistance of a neighbor who hap- 
pened to be there, he was killed ; for me, he 
proved very serviceable to my family. I could 
relate several other Acts of Providence of this 
kind but omit them for brevity. 

As people began to spread and improve their 
lands the country became more fruitful, so that 
those that came after us were plentifully supplied, 
and w'ith what we abounded we began a small 
trade. And as Philadelphia incr^.-sed vessels were 
built and many employed. Both country and 
trade have been wonderfully increased to this 
day, so that from a wilderness the Lord by his 
good hand of Providence hath made it a fruitful 
field. On which to look back and observe all the 
steps would exceed my present purpose. Yet 
being now in the eighty-fourth (84) year of my 
age and having been in this country near forty-six 
(46') years, and my memory pretty clear con- 
cerning the rise and fall of the Province. I can 
do no less than return praise to the Almighty 
when I look back and consider his bountiful 
hand not only in temporal but in the great in- 
crease of our meetings wherein he hath many 
times_ manifested his great loving kindness in 
re.Tching to and convincing many persons of the 
principals of truth, and those tli.nt were already 
convinced and continued faithful! were not only 
blesscdwith plenty of the fruits of the earth but 
also with the dew of heaven. 

I am engaged in my spirit to supplicate th' 
continuance thereof to the present rising peiitra- 
tion, that as God hath blessed their parents the 
same blessing may remain on their offspring to 
the end of time. That it may be so is the hearty 



45 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



desire and prayer of their loving friend & ancient 
friend, Richard Townsend. 



/ 



Richard Townshend, Councillor of Virginia. 
Among the early settlers of Virginia we find 
the name of Richard Townshend, who arrived 
at James City in the ship Abigail, early in the 
year 1620, aged then 19, and from another list of 
those living in Virginia ye i6th February, 1623, 
his name again appears, and at the muster taken 
at James City, ye 24th Jan. 1624, Richard Town- 
send is mentioned as a resident there. From a 
brief note in Secretary Winderbank's office for 
the King's Confirmation for Councillors of Vir- 
ginia, it appears that Robert Evelyn, Captain 
Christopher Wormsley, Richard Townsend, and 
John Sysbye were the persons named for the 
King's approval, and to be sworn forthwith of 
the Council, and Evelyn to enjoy the farm 
granted to him by the King's Letters on his first 
embarkation for America. This Richard Town- 
shend was living in 1649, and we find as early as 
1720 a family seated at Snow-hill, Eastern Shore 
of Maryland, and perhaps descended from him. 

Compiled from Material abstracted from early 
Colonial Records of Massachusetts. 

William Townsend, of Boston, Colony of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay, the Records inform us, came early 
in the year 1634 to New England in the employ 
of Mr. Nicholas Wyllys, who was formerly of 
Bury St. Edmunds, in the County of Sui?olk. 
He was admitted to the church the 3rd of August 
following with Governor Bellingham and his first 
wife, Elizabeth [Backhouse], also Mr. John New- 
gate. 

He married soon after his arrival Hannah, 
sister of the ruling Elder, Mr. James Penn, and 
was made a Freeman, May 25th, 1636. Savage, in 
his Genealogical Dictionary, "says she was maid 
servant to our brother James Everill, and joined 
the church March isth, 1635. "This simplicity of 
character was exhibited in the Puritan household, 
and the style of servant did not imply inferior 
condition so much as obligation to learn. William 
Townsend's possessions, according to the Boston 
town records, within the limits of the town was 
one house and garden, bounded with Edmund 
Jacklin north, Jane Parker south, the street east, 
and Daniel Maud west. It was situated on Marl- 
borough, now Washington Street, near the junc- 
tion of Summer and Winter streets." He was 
also granted "The Eighth of the Eleventh Month 
called January, 1637," eight acres bounded to the 
southeast with William Wilsons, on the north- 
west with a swamp, by Mr. John Coggershall's 
Wigwams and William Dyneley." 

He was subject to the indignity of being dis- 
armed in November, 1637, with a majority of the 
church people, for adhering to the views of Rev. 
Mr. Wheelright, and called a dangerous heretic. 

yiis children were Eliezar, baptised June 12, 

Query. — Ttie Boiling, Stith. Dade and Hoo families 
of Virginia, having used Towneshend as a Christian 
name, are probably his descendant... — See Correspond- 
ence of Hon. Robert B. Boiling, of Petersburgh, Va. 



1635; Patience, baptised May 28, 1637; Hannah, 
born 4th baptized nth April, 1641 ; Peter, bap- 
tized October 30, 1642; Mary, baptised November 
24, 1644; James, baptised January 15, 1C47; Penn 
baptised December 20, 1651 ; John, September 3, 
1653, died next year, and Mary, who died No- 
vember 29, 1658. 

He was born in 1601, according to his deposi- 
tion taken at Boston, Sept. 17, 1668, and as he 
calls his age then 67, and he may have descended 
from a family which we find for more than a 
century previous seated at Great Livermore, 
County Suffolk, and from fragmentary evidence 
which we have not had time to investigate, we 
suppose this family originally came from the 
Co. Norfolk. He died before Dec. — , 1689, and 
his widow died before Feb. 6, 1700, when ad- 
ministration de bonis on non est of her husband 
vvas^given to son Penn. They were both buried 
in King's Chapel churchyard, Boston, and their 
remains afterwards were deposited in the beauti- 
ful Townsend Tombl (still standing) built by 
their grandson James Townsend, Esq., on the site 
of their former graves, and next to Gov. Win- 
throp's. On this fine altar tomb, built in 1716, 
is engraved the Townsend Arms. "Azure a Chev- 
ron Ermine, between three Escallop Shells, Argent 
and Crest, a Buck Trippant, Sable." 

Mr. Townsend's sons, Peter and James, left is- 
sue. His son Col. Penn Townsend, an important 
citizen of Boston, died without male issue, and 
his excellence is shown in a sermon preached the 
next Sabbath after his death by the Rev Thomas 
Foxcroft, M.A., Pastor of the Old Church in 
Boston. He departed this life, Aug. 21, 1727, in 
the 76th year of his age and was interred in 'the 
Granary Burying Ground in his own tomb on 
Tremont street, next the fence which is marked 
by a slab bearing his name, &c. 

Compiled from Material furnished by the 
Hon. Martin Ingham Townsend of Troy 

N. y. ' 

Martyn Townsend, of Watertown, Colony of 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, was born 
about 1644, as papers still extant bearing his 
names as a witness, dated April 7th, 1691, when 
he calls his age 47, and died a few days after 
(see also Savage's Genealogical Dictionary). He 
IS called Planter, died at Burkly, County Carolina, 
and his goods, etc.. were shipped from Charles- 
ton, July 9, 1798, in the "Mary" for Rhode Island, 
Peter Lawrence, master, and his administrators 
are directed to recover his estate of Mr. Robert 
Fenwick. to be found at Mr. Jacklin's near ve 
drawbridge in Boston. His dwelling house and 
several acres of land in Watertown,— north by 

Wilham Perry; ea.st by ; south by 

Henry Bright, senr. ; west by highway. He had 
other lands, 80 acres of which his son Martin 
sold his right to Joshua Kendall, and mentioned 
as belonging to my honored father, Martin Town- 
send, late^ of Carolina. He mav have belonged 
to a family of that name which, according to 
gleanings by the Rev. G. D. Atwood, Rector of 
the Parish of Hinton, in the Hedges, County 



46 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Northampton, England, we find resided there for 
several generations, and the name Martyn fre- 
quently occurring. From a letter of the Hon. 
Martin I. Tovvnsend, ex-Member of Congress for 
Troy, N. Y., we make the following extract : 

* * * "In respect to my ancestors. I read 
more out of it than the text. Martin of Hinton 
was born in 1596. Martin of Watertown, Mass., 
was born in 1644. Martin of Watertown lost an 
infant son Martin. Martin of Watertown named 
a second son Martin. I infer that Martin of Hin- 
ton did. But the records of baptisms don't show 
that Martin of Hinton had any son Martin bap- 
tized in 1664. True. But from his first marriage 
up to 1639. he had all the children baptized which 
any man reasonably could, and from that day no 
Townsend was baptized there until 1672; yet he 
lived and died in that parish and when, in 1672, 
he made his will, he left property to the children 
of his daughter "Keziah," who does not appear 
in the baptismal lists. I inferred that after 1639 
baptisms and marriages by Church Priests were 
almost unknown. Rev. Mr. Atwood confirms my 
conclusions. A daughter of Sir Roger Toivnscnd, 
of East Rainhnm, married a Crewe, Baron Stean, 
the great proprietor of Hinton, and died in 1658, 
when old Martin was still alive. A tablet in 
Stean Church, two miles from Hinton, com- 
memorates him. Another daughter was married 
to a Cartwright, a large Proprietor in Aynho, the 
adjoining parish on the southwest. She died be- 
tween 1660 and 1670, and a tablet commemorates 
her memory in Aynho Church. I have many 
reasons to believe that the Townsends there, i. e., 



Sutton hundred. Southwest corner of Northamp- 
tonshire, were all of one stock (I wish I could 
have a week in Sutton). Sulgravc, the cradle 
of the Washingtons, was about eight to ten miles 
cast of Hinton, in the adjoining hundred of 
Wardon. You say a branch of "your family" 
settled in Carolina. Have you any information 
to that effect to which you can refer me? I knew 
Martin of Watertown died there. I knew that 
at the Probate Court in 1698 it was alleged that 
his son Martin, the eldest, had expectations in 
Carolina. Primogeniture prevailed in that State. 
I have tried hard to find a thread to follow in 
Carolina, but have failed. Martin died in Berk- 
ley County, i. e., over south of Charleston." 

In the Principal Registry of Her Majesty's 
Court of Probate, P. C. C, we find the will of 
Walter Tounesend, of Hinton, Co. Northampton, 
dated Feb. 6, 1630. In which is mentioned his 
sons William, Richard, Martyn, Peter and John, 
besides several daughters. It is possible that the 
Martin Townsend, son of Walter, may have been 
he who settled at Watertown, which can only be 
proved by diligent search in the English records. 

This Martin Townsend, of Watertown, mar- 
ried April 16, 1668, Abigail, daughter of John 
Train, and had Abigail, born Sept. 18, 1669, Mar- 
tin, Hannah, born Oct., 1673, died at two years, 
John, born May 26, 1679, died at four years, Jon- 
athan, born April, 1^8, died at three months, 
Jonathan again, and his wife, died Jan. 16, 1691, 
and he married, Aug. 30, 1693. Esther Perry, of 
Woburn, but no more children are known. 



45' 



ADDENDA 



ROUGHAM NORFOLK CHARTERS. 

As allusion to the origin of the name Townsend 
or Townshend has been made, it was intended to 
Charters drawn in the nth and I2th centuries, in 
which the name Ad-Caput-Ville,Atte-Townes-end 
or Atte-Townes-head, (and, as sometimes writ- 
ten) Ad-Exitum-Ville, more full yappears, but 
time will not admit, and it must be deferred for 
another edition. 

The learned Augustus Jessopp, D.D., late of 
King Edward VI. School, Norwich, Norfolk, 
England (thanks to his research), informs us 
that as early as 1292 there lived at Rucham 
(Rougham), Norfolk, in a house "of some /Tt-- 
tention. for it had outbuildings attached, and a 
croft or enclosed paddock behind, and it abutted 
on the King's Highway leading from Rougham to 
Raynham." a certain Walter, son of Richard, son 
of Thomas Ad-Caput-Ville. Dr. Jessopp says, 
"they got to be called by various names according 
to the taste of themselves or their neighbors. 
Sometimes a Walter or a Roger or John is called 
de-Hauteville, sometimes de-Haville, sometimes 
ad-Caput Ville, sometimes Atte-Townsend." 
These charters are very interesting and surely 
locate this family, and shows its existence then. 
Antiquarians also agree that the "Noble Norman, 
Lodovic," must be moved down two centuries at 
least (Collins and Burke on the contrary not- 
withstanding), when a real Sir Lodovic and his 
son Sir Walter de Townsend had existence. 



As family tradition has frequently been alluded 
to in this work, it having prompted a search 
which has brought back material to the writer 
and formed for him a basis for this compilation 
that on investigation has found firm support from 
numerous facts and circumstances, he has decided 
before closing to repeat it here, prefacing with 
the saying of a learned writer on this subject: 

"The history of all nations and people in their 

origin depends upon their authority of memorial 

tradition when other circumstances give the 

strength of probability to the traditional account." 

Tradition. 

Mr. Thomas Towncsend or Townshend came 
from London in 1637 or 1638, and settled at Lynn 
in the Massachusetts Government, where many 
of his relations and connections had settled, and 
who were from the Eastern Counties and the 
neighborhood of London. These colonists came 
over on account of their religion, many of them 
being obliged to flee from their native land under 
assumed names, therefore leaving no record of 
their departure. He was related to the first Lord 
Townsend, who was created by Charles U. Baron 
Lynn in 1661 ; also, to an Arch-Bishop and a 
Lord Mayor of London. He was also a relative 
of Gov. Winthrop. Money and other property 
were said to have been left him. After he had 
been over some years a relation wrote him if he 
would return to England he should have a 
church living. Who this relative was tradition is 
silent. This family in Elizabeth's reign were 
Catholic recusants. 



48 




MARt^ARET TOWNSKND. 
(Madame C.iuvani.i Tagliaiiictra, ) 

Nlw V.irk City. 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



^ PREFACE 



In the winter of 1863 & 4, our attention was 
called to some old deeds and papers in our pos- 
session, by a question, casually started, about 
some long dead and gone Townsend. The items 
of family history which we gathered from them 
excited our interest and curiosity, and we went 
to the Town Records, to follow up the clue 
thus obtained. At first, the old-fashioned writing 
(very handsome, however, of its kind) was a 
trial to eyes and patience, but a little practice 
enabled us to decipher it very readily. And we 
found it interesting and exciting work to follow 
up the different branches of the family, frequently 
coming, most unexpectedly, upon some hitherto 
unknown member, and again, after long search, 
finding the proper niche for one who had seerned 
entirely unconnected with the rest. We think 
there are not more than two, mentioned in the 
Town Records, whom we have not been able to 
place, and they do not appear until the middle 
of the last century. Apart from the pleasure 
arising from the solution of difficulties in the 
family history, we found the search among the 
Records, to our surprise, most entertaining, from 
the glimpses which the old deeds, wills, and min- 
utes of Town Meetings give of the habits and 
characters of the people. The names soon ceased 
to be mere names to us, and became the repre- 
sentatives of men as diversified in their charac- 
ters, and as distinct to our apprehension, as our 
contemporaries, and far more interesting. It was 
possible, too, having once obtained a starting- 
point, to ascertain with certainty the homes of 
nearly all the early settlers in the village. We 
thought that a few facts relating to their cus- 
toms, polity, and residences, might not be un- 
interesting; so that, as an introduction to the 
Memorial, we have noted down a few of the 
most salient points of the Records. 

We are much indebted to John Remsen, Town- 
Clerk, for the facilities he has afforded us in 



searching the Records, and to Edward Willets, 
by whose kindness we were allowed to examine 
the Records of the Westbury Monthly Meetmg, 
of which he is the Secretary. Beside these, and 
the papers belonging to our branch of the family, 
we have, by the courtesy of our connections, had 
access to many interesting documents. We have 
extracted freely from all these sources, as being 
more interesting than any paraphrase that we 
could give, modernizing the spelling for the con- 
venience of our readers, as well as our own, but 
in other respects adhering strictly to the originals. 
The wills are particularly characteristic and 
amusing. There are none on the Records later 
than 1700. 

It will be observed, that we have not brought 
the genealogy down to the same generation in all 
the branches. We had not the necessary infor- 
mation, and could only obtain it by a tedious 
inquiry and correspondence, without a compen- 
sating advantage; as our object is not to make a 
catalogue of the living, but to preserve and per- 
petuate the memory of the dead. Where any of 
the branches are imperfect, as far as traced, it 
is because we either knew not from whence to 
supply the omissions, or received no answer to 
our applications. Perhaps if we had been able to 
search the County Records as thoroughly as we 
have those of the Town, we might have filled up 
some of the blanks. We do not hope that our 
sketch will have any interest except for those 
who love old things simply for their antiquity, 
without regard to their intrinsic value; and, even 
to them, it cannot be so interesting as to us. who 
have become gradually and thoroughly acquainted 
with the subject; and probably we shall often 
fail to make the connecting thread (so plain to 
us) apparent to our readers. Still, we hope the 
result will not be entirely without interest to the 
members of the family, and the inhabitants of the 
village. 

Oyster Bay, March 8, 1864. 



49 



^ 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



A MEMORIAL 

OF JOHN, HENRY, AND RICHARD TOWNSEND, AND THEIR 

DESCENDANTS. 



"Anno Domini sixteen hundred and fifty-three. 
This writing witnesseth, that Assiapum, alias 
Mohanes, have sold unto Peter Wright, Samuel 
Mayo, and William Leverich, their heirs, admin- 
istrators, and assigns, all his land lying and situ- 
ate upon Oyster Bay, and bounded by Oyster 
River to the east side, Papaquatunk River on the 
west side, with all woods, rivers, meadows, up- 
lands, ponds, and all other appurtenances lying 
between the bounds aforesaid, with all the Islands 
lying to the seaward, excepting one Island, com- 
monly called Hog Island, and bounded near the 
southward by a point of trees, called Cantiague. 
In consideration of which bargain sold, he is to 
receive, as full satisfaction, six Indian coats, six 
kettles, six fathom of wampum, six hoes, five 
hatchets, three pair of stockings, thirty awl-blades, 
or muxes, twenty knives, three shirts, and as 
much Peague as will amount to four pounds 
sterling. In witness thereof he set his mark in 
presence of us, 

"William WashboueNE, 

"Anthony Wright, 

"Robert Williams. 

Assiapum, or 
Mohanes X mark. 

"The within-named Samuel Mayo, Peter 
Wright, and William Leverich, do accept as joint 
partners with ourselves, in the lands purchased of 
Assiapum, and particularly mentioned in the 
viJriting made, and subscribed by himself and 
other Indians, respectively interested, in names 
of such Indians absent, acted by himself, and 
them all. Witness our hands, 

"William Leverich, 
"Samuel Mayo, 
"Joint purchasers with us, — 
"William Washbourne, Thos. Armitage, 

"Daniel Whitehead, Anthony Wright, 

"Robert Williams, John Washbourne." 

With this deed begins the history of Oyster 
Bay. The following curious accounts of the first 
settlement^found, the first, among the papers of 
William M. Hewlett, an autograph, the last in the 
Town Record — show how the payment to the 
Indians was made: 

"Oyster Bay, 20th of December, 1683. I, Nich- 
olas Simkins, now an inhabitant of Musketocove, 
aged fifty-six, or thereabouts, do declare that I, 
being at the first settlement of Oyster Bay, which 
was in the year 1653, Peter Wright, William 
Leverich. and Samuel Mayo, they being the three 
first purchasers, as by the grand deed from the 



Indian Sachem, and they being mentioned in the 
deed as purchasers, condescended to the others, 
to make a settlement of the said purchase, and 
for did accept of William Wash- 

bourne, and his son John Washbourne, Thomas 
Armitage, Daniel Whitehead, Robert Williams, 
and Richard Holbrook, as equal purchasers with 
them, and forthwith indorsed the same upon the 
back side of the bill of sale; that being done 
and agreed upon, they immediately proceeded to 
the laying out allotments; but first they laid out 
all the highways in the Town, by joint consent. 
Secondly, beginning at the Mill River, from, and 
so eastward to the harbor side, they laid out 
upward of twenty lots, granting equal privileges 
to every lot; and next year, Will Smith and old 
John Titus, with several others, were accepted 
of as inhabitants, and had their allotments laid 
out to them, by Peter Wright, by the consent 
of the purchasers. But so it happened, that the 
purchase-money being not paid, the Indians began 
to be very unruly and dissatisfied; whereupon the 
purchasers with the rest of the inhabitants then 
settled, desired William Smith and John Titus 
to prepay for the goods, to pay the Indians, which 
they did, to Mr. Briant, of Milford, and paid it 
in beef, and I killed the cattle and paid the debt; 
and when we came to levy the rate for the pur- 
chase, it came to eighteen shillings and ten 
pence. And, to my knowledge, Samuel Mayo was 
at two Town Meetings, at the first settlement of 
the place, and was always forward in joining and 
granting of allotments to each one that was free 
to settle amongst them, as far forth as any of 
the rest of the purchasers, or people settled ; and 
this I can give upon oath, and much more, if 
thereunto called or required, as witness my hand. 
Richard Holbrook was the first man, as a pur- 
chaser, that got up his house, in Oyster Bay. To 
which I subscribe my hand. 

"Nicholas Simkins." 

"I, Samuel Titus, of Huntington, aged forty- 
nine, or thereabouts, doth witness and declare, 
that about thirty years since, at the first settle- 
ment of Oyster Bay, being then with my father, 
under his command, Mr. Leverich, and the rest 
of the first purchasers, living in said Town, who 
admitted freely of my father and two of my 
brothers as inhabitants and townsmen amongst 
them, who paid before his death his purchase- 
money, with the rest of the purchasers; and I 
well remember, my father had an ox, and one 
cow, which was killed and sent over to Milford, 
to Mr. Briant, excepting one quarter, to procure 
the goods to pay the Indians for the Town pur- 



50 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



chase, which, I suppose, should have been paid 
before, but was not, whereupon the Indians began 
to be very surly, until they had their pay paid 
them, as aforesaid. And further, 1 well remem- 
ber, that Mr. Samuel Mayo was here at Oyster 
Bay, several times after this payment and settle- 
ment of the Town, and never made any objection 
against any of their proceedings, in the settlement 
thereof; and further, I remember, that the said 
purchasers of the Town did condescend to each 
other, to have no more in the propriety thereof, 
but to be equal alike, which was, every purchaser 
a home lot containing six acres, and others, that 
were to be taken in as townsmen, to have but 
five-acre lots; and that I never, all the time we 
lived in the town, did hear or understand, that 
said Mayo desired any more for his part among 
the rest of the Town, at the time, than the lot 
which was laid out unto him, lying on the north 
side of Anthony Wright's home lot, which I was 
informed by several of the Town at the time, he 
did intend to come speedily, and settle upon it; 
and further, I well remember, that after the 
Indians had their pay, now quiet and well con- 
tented, and then the inhabitants, with the pur- 
chasers, now agreed, and was to give Mr. Lev- 
erich fifteen pounds per year, as minister among 
them. This above written is the truth ; and would 
have been present before the arbitrators at Oyster 
Bay, to have declared the same, but was pre- 
vented by reason of my hay, at the south, lieth 
upon as witness my hand, in Oyster 

Bay, 24th day of October, 1684. 

"Samuel Titus." 
"This sworn before me, this 24th day of Oc- 
tober, 1684. 

"Thomas Townsend." 

The boundaries of the Indian deed are indefi- 
nite, and controversies very soon arose about the 
western line, — the Indians claiming the right to 
the lands on ^latinecock, and at Susco's wigwam 
(so called from Susconamon, by whom the 
greater part of the subsequent Indian deeds are 
given), now Wolver Hollow and Cedar Swamp, 
the whites maintaining Hempstead Harbor to be 
the western boundary. Papaquatunk River is 
never mentioned except in this deed, and the 
terms of the grant made it evident that the In- 
dians were right in claiming Beaver Swamp and 
Shoo Brook as the western line. For once, they 
maintained their rights, and sold land at all these 
places. Matinecock inchided Buckram, which 
was not so called on the Records, until after 1730. 
Buckram lot had been mentioned before, but that 
was a small parcel of land, not a district. In 
1785, the Indian title was extinguished by the 
New Purchase, extending to what is now the 
western boundary of the Town. There was also 
some difference of opinion as to the intentions of 
the Indians in selling, and the Rev. Mr. Leverich, 
who had then left here, gives his understanding 
of the matter, as follows. The views of the In- 
dians on the subject are not recorded. 

"Protest of Wm. Leverich, Old Purchase, 
March 22d, 1663. Whereas, I understand that 



there is some controversy about a sale of lands, 
Mayo, Peter Wright, and William Leverich, for 
made by Assiapum, or Mohanes, made to Samuel 
want of sound formalities usual in English deeds; 
and being desired what I understood about the 
points, I do therefore testify, that the intention of 
the said Assiapum was to convey, not only his 
right, but the right of his heirs and Extrs., 
which, though not expressed, is easily understood. 
1st, For the Indians, so far as I can understand, 
have never made any sales for lives, but of cus- 
tom — which is their law — passed the right of 
their heirs present, with their own, unless they 
made any express exceptions ; 2d, and there is 
enough in the writing to prove this to have been 
his intention, in the words, interlined. Heirs and 
Executors, and which, if it may help such are on 
difference to a better intelligence, I shall be glad. 
If otherwise, I shall be sorry that such as profess 
themselves Christians, shall teach heathens less 
honestly, under pretence of teaching them more 
law. William Leverich." 

These misunderstandings seem to have occa- 
sioned no hostile feelings between the whites and 
the Indians. Except on the sale of lands, the 
latter are only alluded to on the Records in the 
following entry : 

"Dec. 13th, 1660. It is ordered, that no person 
or persons whatsoever shall, doubly or individu- 
ally, sell wine or strong liquor to the Indians, 
upon the forfeiture of five shillings for the first 
default, and ten shillings for the second, and the 
third lime, to forfeit his right of meadow to 
the Town." 

Beside the difficulties with the Indians about 
the western boundary, there w^re controversies 
with the Town of Huntington on the east, and 
Robert Williams on the south. We copy the 
following remonstrance to the people of Hunt- 
ington, from the Record : 

"Oyster Bay, this 3d day of the 7th month, 
1663. Neighbors : we are informed, by one of 
your townsmen, that some of your townsmen 
have tnowed some of our meadows at tlie south. 
If it be a mistake, we shall not regard it; but if 
appointed by you, we desire to know your 
grounds, for we desire to be at peace with you, 
and to have our rights also, which we judge is 
your right desire also; and therefore, if you see 
cause to appoint a man, or more, and let him, or 
them, have your deeds, tliat fully show your title 
to the said land, then shall we do the like ; but 
we request you, to send us a line or two, that we 
may know your minds, and appoint the time and 
place, and we will meet you, and end the differ- 
ence if we can: but if you refuse our proposi- 
tion herein to you, then we do by this, request 
you, to forbear mowing our meadow, which be- 
gins at the River Passasqueung, our east bounds. 
For peace and quietness, we have done this, 
knowing that the best title must carry it, and 
that cannot be known, but they must be com- 
pared, and we hope that is the readiest way, for 
any that desire peace. 

"In behalf of the Town, a true copy of what 
was sent by me. "Henry Townsend" 

51 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



To settle this line, Thomas Townsend, Na- 
thaniel Coles, and John Weeks were appointed by 
Oyster Bay, and Thomas Powell and Abiel Titus, 
by Huntington; and on the 7th of August, 1684, 
they run the line of division. Several attempts 
were made to settle the difficulty with Williams, 
and, as appears from the following order, there 
was a settlement made; but long afterwards, the 
affair seems to have given a great deal of trouble, 
and there are allusions to a suit between the 
Town and Williams's widow and heirs. This 
order is interesting, as it gives evidence of the 
industrious habits of the people. 

"Oyster Bay, June 13th, 1684. At a Town 
Meeting then ordered, that every freeholder of 
this Town, or that possesses any lands within 
this Town purchase, are to attend at the Town 
House, on Monday next, being the 5th day of 
July ensuing, at sunrise, at furthest, in the morn- 
ing, in order to run the line or bound between 
this Town's lands, and Robert Williams's lands; 
and that person interested in the Town, that shall 
prove defective herein, shall forfeit five shillings, 
to them that run the same, according to this 
order, and to be taken forthwith, by distress, by 
the Constable. Provided that those that cannot 
go, do cut brush in the town, where they shall 
be appointed, by those persons appointed for that 
purpose, this year." 

The line between Oyster Bay and Hempstead 
was also the subject of negotiation, and was 
finally adjusted by Henry and Thomas Town- 
send, on the part of Oyster Bay; although late 
in the ensuing century there was still some dis- 
agreement betweeti the towns, respecting their 
boundaries. 

It is not possible to discover from the Records, 
with any precision, the regulations which governed 
the management and distribution of the common 
property. There are abundant evidences, not only 
that their practice varied, but that their theory 
was very vague and ill-defined, and variously 
understood and construed. From the deposition 
of Samuel Titus, already cited, and many other 
indications, we believe that the first intention (de- 
parted from especially in relation to the meadows, 
very soon) was, that there should be no private 
property but the home lots, the first of which 
were, as he says, six acres, but were not, as he 
says, five acres to all subsequent purchasers, few, 
after the first allotments, being so large, and 
several, we know, were only half an acre. This 
indefiniteness in their scheme of division led to 
many difficulties. The heirs of Peter Wright, 
Mayo, and Leverich, claimed rights which the 
Town disputed, and it was in an arbitration be- 
tween the Town and Mayo's representatives, that 
these depositions were taken, to prove that Mayo 
had never claimed more than a townsman's right. 
Finally, the Town settled with the heirs of Peter 
Wright and Mayo, by giving them a large tract 
of land on the south side of the Town. Many 
years afterwards, in 1720, Nicholas Lang and 
others brought suit against the Town, for rights 
in the Old Purchase, under the titles of William 



Leverich and Robert Williams, but this time it 
was decided in favor of the Town. 

But though their theory was vague, and their 
practice variable, there are some matters of fact, 
which we have gleaned, that may be very inter- 
esting. Every home lot was entitled to certain 
privileges, such as shares in the common inca- 
doics, pastures, and woodlands. These privileges 
were not inseparable from the lot, as, at a sale, 
they were sometimes reserved by the seller, and 
sometimes divided into half-rights. Being a land- 
owner did not necessarily constitute a freeholder. 
The Town frequently, for particular reasons, gave 
home lots to persons having no rights, upon con- 
dition of building, within a year and a day (sev- 
eral such gifts were forfeited). These lots, vary- 
ing in size, carried with them privileges, more or 
less extensive, at the option of the donors, and 
many who obtained lots in this way, or by pur- 
chase, were accepted, at different times, as "equal 
townsmen," whether by purchase or favor does 
not appear. The freeholders claimed the right to 
prevent the transfer of property to strangers, 
without their consent. 

"Dec. 13th, 1660. It is this day ordered and 
agreed, by the inhabitants of the Town, that no 
person whatsoever shall sell any land, lying or 
being within the bound of Oyster Bay, unto any, 
until the Town, or a major part of the Town, do 
admit first, of the said purchaser, for an in- 
habitant." 

They asserted this right, on several occasions, 
but never, that we can discover, successfully. 
John Richbill, the only large landholder in the 
early days of the settlement, though it does not 
appear how he became so, sold his interest, to 
Latamore Sampson ; the Town entered a protest 
upon record, but, notwithstanding, Sampson re- 
tained the property, and transmitted it to others. 

Hog Island was, in the original deed, reserved 
by the Indians, but very soon passed into the pos- 
session of the settlers (when or how, we have 
rot found recorded),* and was, with Pine Island, 
among their most valuable property. They 
planted a part of it, occasionally, so much as to 
prevent the use of it as a common pasture, and 
there are several engagements, with different per- 
sons, to live there, and take care of the crops. 
But its principal value consisted in its grazing 
lands and meadows. Indeed, for a great many 
years, the natural produce of the meadows, fresh 
and salt, seems to have been their principal re- 
source. 

It does not appear exactly what was meant by 
"common right." Pasture for a certain number 
of cattle, and the use of wood, were some of 
them. The number of animals which one person 
was allowed to graze is not mentioned, except 
in the case of Hog Island ; at a meeting of the 
owners of that, the following resolution was 
passed, though afterwards they concluded to graze 
none that year, but plant. 

"Since writing this, we have found a deed, from 
which it appears that the Indians sold the Island to 
Cornelius Van Raynen, Govert Lolcermans, and Jaco- 
bu.s Bucker. who transferred it to the Town of Oyster 
Bay in 1665. The consideration is not stated. 



52 



T O W X S E X D — T O W N S H E N D 



"April 30th, 1686. At a meeting at the house 
of Henn- Townsend, it was ordered and agreed 
upon unanimously, by the major part of the own- 
ers and proprietors of the said Island, that there 
shall be no more than six cows kept on the 
said Island to one share, which share is twenty- 
second part of said Island, and that shall be the 
whole stint and number of creatures that shall 
be kept there, with liberty, as hereafter ex- 
pressed, that for every cow, that shall be di- 
minished or abated of the aforesaid number, 
there may be put in the room thereof, either two 
swine, four sheep, or two yearlings of cow kind ; 
and one horse, in the room of two cows ; but 
goats are to be free for every owner, to keep 
what he pleases." 

"In 16S5. it is ordered, that after the 2Sth of 
the next December, no swine are to run on the 
common without a swine-herd, and no one w-as to 
be required to fence against them, and they were 
not to run in the streets, with or without a herd, 
and any one was (in case they do so) at liberty 
to kill them, or take what course he pleased, 
provided, the owners were first warned. In 1689, 
they were entirely prohibited on the common." 

The salt hay had a value, beside its nutritious 
qualities. In the "Documentary History of New 
York," it is stated, that the natural pasture in 
Oyster Bay was thought to be injurious, indeed 
fatal to cattle, but that the deleterious effects 
were prevented by the use of salt hay. It is most 
probable that the disease was attributable to some 
other cause than the natural grass. 

If, as we have supposed, it was the first in- 
tention to hold all but the home lots as common 
property, it was not very long acted upon. At 
first, shares of meadow were laid out to each. 
Then, from time to time, divisions of the other 
common lands were made ; sometimes only to the 
freeholders, of whom we give below a list in 1677. 
Sometimes, land-owners, not freeholders, shared 
in the distribution. Sometimes, the land to be 
divided was designated and distributed by lot ; 
but frequently, if not generally, when the shares 
are sold, the purchaser is authorized to take 
them, "where he shall see cause." 

"A Town Meeting, held the ist of May, 1677, 
there confirmed by name, every freeholder, which 
hath a free vote, for giving and granting of 
common rights, and not otherwise ; and that, 
from henceforward, no grant of township, or 
common rights, shall be confirmed, or held legal 
grants, without every freeholder hath legal warn- 
ing, that such a meeting is to be appointed, or 
that there are lands to be given out ; and after 
legal warning given them, by the officer ap- 
pointed, it shall be held legal, to all intents and 
purposes, all gifts or grants of common rights, 
to either man or men, given by the majority of 
freeholders, that doth appear at the time and place 
appointed; and it is further agreed that, for 
every town right that any freeholder doth pos- 
sess, he shall have so many votes, in the giving 
and granting land and common rights, and not 
otherwise to be understood, but to grant and 
divide, as they shall see cause. 



"Henry Townsend, I. Joseph Dickinson, I. 
Edmund Wright, i. Anthony Wright, I. Joseph 
Ludlum, 2. Samuel Weeks, i. Nicholas Simkins, 
I. John Jones, I. Francis Weeks, V/2. William 
Frost, I. John Rogers, i. John Dickinson, I. 
Wm. Buckler, I. Nicholas Wright, I. Job Wright, 
I. Elizabeth Townsend, 2. John Townsend, i. Jo- 
sias Latting, 2. Nathaniel Coles, i^. Richard Har- 
cott, I. Adam Wright, I. Daniel Coles, i. John 
Wright. I. John Townsend, i. Caleb Wright, I. 
Isaac Doutty, I. James Townsend, I. John Weeks, 

1. Samuel ,\ndrews, 2. Matthias Harvey, Fyde. 
Samuel Furman, Yz. Alice Crabb, I. Henry 
Townsend, Jr., i. Gideon Wright, I. Richard 
Crabb, i. George Dennis, i. Thomas Townsend, 

2. Joseph Weeks, i. John Weeks, of Warwick, 
I. Thomas Weeks, i. Moses Furman, !-^. James 
Weeks. I. Latamore Sampson, alias Simon 
Cooper. 4." 

None but these freeholders were eligible to 
office. 

These divisions, giving every man numerous 
small, detached parcels of land (the divisions 
were sometimes as small as five acres, very sel- 
dom, if ever, more than thirty), originated a 
system of exchanges and frequent sales, which 
make the Records a complete family history for 
every owner; for the person who gives a deed 
seldoms fails to tell how he came by the land, 
and what degree of relationship existed between 
him and the purchaser, as well as former owner. 
Every farm in the Old Purchase (except four 
hundred acres at Cove Neck Point, laid out to 
Simon Cooper, upon his right purchased of 
Sampson), and many of those in the New, were 
formed by this process of exchans^e and purchase. 

The settlers had very little tillable land beside 
their home lots and the Planting Fields, which, 
being called in the oldest Records the "Old Plant- 
ing Fields," were probably used by the Indians 
for that purpose. Indeed, more land than a man 
could cultivate with his own family, was of no 
present use ; they had slaves, but they were too 
few to be taken into the account, and hired la- 
borers there were none. Notwithstanding the 
scarcity of labor, however, they did not confine 
their attention to the mere necessaries in their 
agriculture. As early as 1669, a place sold by 
Nicholas Simpkins is described as having upon 
it twenty-four apple-trees in bearing, and one 
pear-tree. In 1673, Thomas Townsend, in selling 
a place, reserves the apple, peach, and cherry 
trees ; and in 16S0, John Robins reserves not only 
apple-trees ; but a nursery of apple and peach 
trees, at Matinacock. And, strange as it may ap- 
pear, in those days of cheap land and dear labor, 
land-owners thought it worth while to lease more 
land. The following copy gives not only the 
terms of such a lease, but the prices of grain 
then current: 

"This instrument of writing witncsseth, that I, 
Robert Godfree, of Littleworth, within the town- 
ship of Oystej Bay, have let to farm, all my im- 
proved lands and meadows at Littleworth, unto 
Isaac Doughty and William Crooker, to them, 
their executors, or assigns, for the full term of 



53 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



seven years, from the date hereof underwritten, 
to occupy, possess, and improve, as they see 
cause, without hindrance or molestation from me, 
or any from me, or under me, they paying and 
fulfilling to me, and my order, as followeth, viz. : 
they are to set one hundred apple-trees out into 
my said land, in order for an orchard, and fence 
it in with a three-rail fence, and keep the apple- 
trees well pruned. Secondly, they are to pay 
to me, or my heirs or assigns, three pounds 
yearly, during the full term of seven years, good 
merchantable wheat, at five shillings a bushel, or 
Indian corn, at two shillings, sixty pounds to the 
bushel, rye, at three shillings the bushel, and 
oats and peas, as it passes between neighbor and 
neighbor; the said grains so paid yearly, to be 
paid to me, or my order, before the ist of 
March, at the house of Isaac Doughty; but it 
is to be understood, the one-half the rent is to 
be paid in good winter wheat, and the said apple- 
trees are to be planted out this ensuing spring, 
and what apple-trees more shall be set out upon 
my land by them, or fences made better at the 
expiration of the time, shall be allowed out of 
the rent, as honest men shall judge; or if they 
shall see cause to build a house or barn upon 
the said land, it shall be paid or allowed out of 
the rent, being valued as aforesaid. And to the 
true performance of this, our aforesaid agree- 
ment, we have interchangeably to each other, 
subscribed our hands, and set to our seals, in 
Oyster Bay, i6th day of October, 1682." 

The value of land, for many years after the 
settlement, can only be determined by a com- 
parison of the few cases in which the price and 
quantity are mentioned, with the prices of other 
things. In the older deeds the price is rarely 
mentioned, the quantity of land still more rarely, 
and when both are stated, the value frequently 
consisted, in a great measure, in the buildings 
and other improvements. There are a few in- 
stances, however, that will enable us to form 
some judgment in the matter. Thomas Town- 
send and Richard Harcut, appraisers of the 
property of Samuel Mayo, consisting of a home 
lot, and a share of meadow, containing two acres 
and a quarter, valued the whole at twenty-five 
pounds. The home lot was the place lately 
owned by Hamilton, containing six acres, one of 
the best in the village. This was in 1671, and 
about the same time, at the division of John 
Townsend's estate, a bed and furniture was 
valued at ten pounds, and two cows at the same. 
Not very long afterwards, Thomas Townsend 
bought the Fort Neck estate from the Indians 
(Dr. Peter S. Townsend says, nearly four miles 
square), for fifteen pounds, and Joseph Ludlum 
paid one hundred pounds for a homestead con- 
taining seventeen acres (Mrs. Miner's place), 
■with the buildings and privileges belonging to it. 
Indeed, this homestead, with the privileges at- 
tached, bore about the same relative value to the 
Fort Neck property that a fine house on Fifth 
Avenue bears to a township in Oregon ; and the 
home meadows, as they called those near the 
village, were held at a higher value than even 



the home lots. The value which they set upon 
their movables, meaning household furniture, 
farming utensils, trade tools, and live-stock, is to 
our ideas very amusing; it is impossible to read 
without a smile the wills which we will insert, 
of the leading people, gravely dividing the most 
insignificant articles among their children. But 
the reason is obvious enough. All these things 
came from England with them, and could only 
be replaced from there at an enormous cost, 
compared with their intrinsic value. Such things 
were scarce everywhere in this country, but prob- 
ably particularly so here, for every one of the 
early settlers had made other homes before this, 
some as many as four; and considering the dif- 
ficulty of transportation, and the fact that many 
of them had been obliged to leave their first set- 
tlements hurriedly, on account of religious perse- 
cutions, it is easy to see that the stock of goods, 
as well as money, with which they emigrated, 
must have been sadly diminished. This high 
value continued to attach to movables (except 
cattle) for many years, of which we find an 
amusing instance as late as 1720. The arbitrators, 
in a distpute between Robert Coles and his step- 
son, Robert Shadbolt, after deciding the owner- 
ship of houses and lands, made the following 
award : 

"Robert Shadbolt shall have the meanest of 
them two feather-beds, which was in the house 
where he now lives, which was his mother's, as 
also a bolster and two pillows, and a checkered 
coverlet, and one of the straw beds, and a set of 
blue curtains, and all his mother's wearing clothes 
that are in the house now, and the high candle- 
sticks, and one of the looking-glasses, and all the 
window curtains in the house, and one iron pot, 
that was his mother's, being at Joseph Wolsey's." 

This is one of the only two instances in which 
clothes are mentioned ; they seem to have been 
plenty enough; curtains, especially bed-curtains, 
appear to have been considered necessaries. 

The wives and daughters generally got the 
movables. The father, having lands of which 
he could make no use himself, gave them to his 
sons as they grew up, and the older ones being 
thus provided for, the homestead usually fell to 
the youngest, and was sometimes given to him 
during the life of the parents, upon condition of 
his making a certain provision for them; but 
generally the wife had the homestead (occasion- 
ally only a part of it) during her life, or widow- 
hood. It was a matter of course that she would 
marry again, unless advanced in years. In such 
a simple society, it was very easy for a man to 
start in life, and maintain a family as well as his 
neighbors, consequently they married young ; and 
being, as in all new settlements, more numerous 
than women, they were quite ready to marry an 
attractive widow with a family of children, espe- 
cially as, though ic'f should not call either mother 
or children rich, they could bring their full pra- 
portion to the common stock. The only in- 
stances remembered of widows remaining un- 
married, during the first fifty years of the settle- 
ment, were the two Elizabeths, widows of John 



54 



T O W N S E X D — T O W N S H E N D 



Townsend and John Dickinson, who had each of 
them nine children, several of them married 
when they became widows. Nor is it surprising 
that the most afflicted should be induced to accept 
a second husband, whose strong arm was needed 
to make her property and that of her children 
available to their support. 

It does not appear to have been considered, 
that a wife had any right in her husband's real 
estate; for many years she rarely joins in a deed 
(we might almost say never), unless the property 
originally belonged to her. But in several cases 
where a man died intestate, the wife, with the 
consent and advice of her husband's nearest male 
relations, divided the estate among the children, 
retaining the use of a part, or the_ whole, during 
her life or widowhood. If the wife had no in- 
terest in her husband's real estate, it is very 
difficult to find out what right he had in hers. 
There is an illustration of the uncertainty that 
they felt themselves about the matter in the fol- 
lowing deed : 

"I, Alice Crabb, of Oyster Bay, do by these 
presents, assign and make over all my right, title, 
and interest, in this above-written deed, unto my 
son Adam Wright, and his heirs forever, only 
I do reserve to myself the use of the share of 
meadow, mentioned in this deed, during my life, 
and after my decease it is to redown to my son 
Adam, and his heirs, forever, as witness my hand, 
in Oyster Bay, this 26th day of June, 1675. 

"It is to be understood that, although Richard 
Crabb be not mentioned in the above-written 
deed, yet, notwithstanding, he being considered 
head or chief, do by these presents confirm that 
his said wife, Alice Crabb, hath done by this 
assignment, only the said Richard Crabb reserves 
the above said sh^ar of meadow to his oicn dis- 
posal." 

Fortunately, there were no lawyers to suggest 
a doubt about the title to that "shear of mead- 
ow." 

The highest assessment, on a list made in 1683, 
is £220; the person so assessed was Mary Willets 
(widow of Richard), of Jericho, sister of the 
wife of Robert Williams. Through her father, 
and brother William, and Hope Washbourne, she 
became possessed of a large tract of land, being 
a part of that held by Williams. She was the 
ancestress of all the Willets in the town. Her 
son Richard left a memorandum of his birth, 
marriage, the birth of his daughter, and death of 
his wife, which the Clerk of the Meeting thought 
worthy of a place on the record, from which we 
shall copy it, for although "an oft-told tale," it 
has been seldom told with such brief, simple 
pathos. 

"I was born on the 2Sth of tenth rnonth, 1660, 
and I continued with my mother until I was 25 
years of age; and in the year 1686, on the 2Sth 
day of the ist month, I took Abigail Bowne to 
wife, and we continued together until the 2Sth of 
the nth month following, and then she bare me 
a daughter, and she called her name Hannah; 
and we enjoyed each other, in great love, until 



the i6th of the 4th month, 1689, and then the 
Lord took her to Himself, and left me, Richard 
Willets, a sorrowful man, with my motherless 
babe." 

The only mention of a schoolmaster is in 1677, 
when "Thomas Webb, schoolmaster," was ap- 
pointed Town-Clerk, with a salary of forty shil- 
lings. It is singular that many of those who 
could write, habitually made their mark. Some 
of these markers do occasionally write their 
names ; others were surveyors, and must have 
been not only able to write, but in the habit of it. 
The writing and orthography of the oldest books 
of Record are unexceptionable (indeed, much of 
the writing is very handsome, but so different 
from that to which we are accustomed as to make 
it somewhat difficult to read), which is more than 
can be said for some entries several years later. 
The first physician in Oyster Bay was "Simon 
Cooper, chirurgeon;" his son Robert was also a 
chirurgeon. The assessment list, which we men- 
tioned above (from the "Documentary History of 
New York"), had a note subjoined, stating that 
the inhabitants, being "sickly," had not sent in 
their lists. In a paper left by Squire George 
Townsend, of Norwich, he says that his grand- 
father and his brother died in what was called 
"the great sickness" (1607), and continued to be 
so called when he wrote, 1769. There is an 
entry on the Town Record that the Town Meet- 
ing, April 7lh, 1747, was held at Wolver Hollow, 
"by reason of the small-pox distemper being in 
the town." 

No clerg>'man of any denomination is alluded 
to, except in the deposition of Samuel Titus, al- 
ready copied, and the following entry : 

"At a Town Meeting, Feb. 19th, 1693. This 
day the Town met togetlier, in order to a late 
Act of Assembly, for settling two ministers in 
the County, but nothing done about it, but made 
return that it was against their judgment, there- 
fore could act nothing about it." 

Among the most important officers of the 
Town, if not the most so, was that of Surveyor. 
Two were elected every year, but the same ones 
were re-elected many times. John Townsend, at 
Mill, held the office nineteen years, being elected 
in 1686, with Thomas Weeks, wlio served with 
him, until '95 or '96, when Rhode Island John 
Townsend took his place. Mill John died in 
1705, and was succeeded by his nephew, the 3d 
Henry ; he and Rhode Island John both dying 
in 1709, were replaced, after a short interval, by 
James Townsend. of Jericho, and George Town- 
send, of Oyster Bay, who continued to be elected 
for twenty years. The fee at first was sixpence 
per acre, but in 1686 was reduced to three. The 
inducement to hold the office was to obtain such 
a knowledge of all the land in the town as would 
enable them to purchase and exchange advan- 
tageously. But when the price of this work, or 
of anything else, is mentioned, it is not to be 
supposed that money was the medium of pay- 
ment. That was very rarely the case ; if "mov- 
ables" were scarce, money was more so, and 
there are constant allusions to payments in prod- 

55 



TOW N SEND — TOW NSHEND 



\i:e, at stipulated prices. We will copy a speci- 
men of these transactions. 

In 1692, Henry Townsend sold several parcels 
of land, at the Planting Fields, to John Dows- 
bury, for sixty pounds of silver money, current 
in the colony, to be paid by annual instalments 
of five pounds, but "it is to be understood that 
these several payments, before expressed, are 
to be paid, the one half in money, the other half 
in goods, at money price." The following is the 
receipt for the first payment : 

"Received, this last day of October, 1693. Then 
received of John Dowsbury, in this within-men- 
tioned bill, one cow, one calf, and two years' old 
heifer, at the sum of five pounds, being in full of 
the first year's payment, according to the within- 
written obligation. I say received by me, 

"Henry Townsend." 

Even the half stipulated to be paid in money 
was not forthcoming. This scarcity of money, 
however, we know to have been general. As an 
illustration of it, we may mention that when 
William Bradford issued proposals for printing 
the Bible, in New York, in 1688, the price was 
to be twenty shillings, but the proposals contain 
a clause that the pay may be half silver, "or 
they who really have not money, goods at money 
price will satisfy." A people who had little or 
no money, or surplus produce, could buy little, 
and they were obliged to supply their wants 
among themselves as they best could. They had 
sheep, and of course raised flax, though it is not 
mentioned in the Records. Weavers and shoe- 
makers were in abundance, so that they had no 
difficulty about clothing and house linen (though 
a single sheet is more than once mentioned in 
a will). Their chief trouble was the want of 
a competent blacksmith. They no doubt required 
an accomplished artist, who could keep their iron- 
ware of all kinds as good as new for twice its 
natural life, and then contrive something to an- 
swer the purpose out of the remains. The first 
one mentioned was John Thomson, whom the 
Town receives as blacksmith, and allots to him 
a home lot, which if he die in the Town is to 
belong to his heirs, but if he leaves is to return 
to the Town, they paying for his improvements. 
For a while things went on very smoothly, al- 
lotments were made here and there to John 
Thomson, and he was evidently in high favor. 
Suddenly there was a change ; at a Town Meet- 
ing, in 1677, the Constable, Thomas Townsend, 
was ordered to "give notice to John Thomson 
to resine up the land, which the Town formerly 
gave him, for a breach of covenant, being then 
entertained as the Town smith, or to answer the 
Town's complaints the next session at Jamaica." 
This reads as though the land had been given 
for a breach of covenant, a blunder which would 
have been avoided had their Constable drafted 
the resolution, his style being remarkable for 
clearness. John did not "resine up" the land, but 
appointed two attorneys to maintain his right 
to it. The Constable was ordered to take pos- 
session ; but finally the Town and the attorneys 
agreed that he should have liberty to sell his 

56 



house and lands to any that the town approves, 
"but not to come and live in it himself." The 
house was sold to Joseph Ludlum, and there the 
matter ended. Soon after that, Abraham Ailing, 
or Alen, was accepted as smith. His lot, how- 
ever, was granted upon the terms usual in such 
gifts, that is, to be built upon in a year and a 
day, or forfeited. He seems to have given entire 
satisfaction as long as he exercised his trade, 
which was not, however, many years ; he took up 
land, and continued to add to it, until he owned 
the tract on the east side of Mill Neck, now 
divided into four farms, one of which (that at 
the Point, then called Cedar Point) still belongs 
to his descendants. There are other negotiations 
with blacksmiths, showing that for many years 
the settlement of one in the village was a public 
concern. 

In 1661, the grant of the Mill Stream was made 
to Henry Townsend. Dr. Peter Townsend says 
that before he built the mill, the people were 
obliged to carry their grain across to Norwalk to 
be ground, and that he was invited here to build 
the mill by the Wrights and John Dickinson. 
This is tradition, but is no doubt true. The 
original grant and the property conveyed by it 
are now in the possession of (jeorge Townsend, 
great-great-great-great-grandson of Henry. 

"Oyster Bay, September i6th, i86i. Be it 
known unto all men by these presents, that we, 
the Inhabiters of the Town of Oyster Bay, on 
Long Island, in America, whose names are under- 
written — we do by these presents, firmly covenant, 
and engage, unto Henry Townsend, now in the 
said town, upon condition the said Henry Town- 
send do build such a mill, as at Norwalk, on 
the Maine, or an English mill, on our stream, 
called by us, the Mill River, at the west end of 
our Town, then we do give and confirm such 
lands to him, his heirs, and assigns, forever, 
without molestation or condition, as, namely, all 
the mill lot, bounded with Henry Disbrow's lot 
on the east side; the salt meadow on the north 
end ; Anthony Wright's meadow lot on the west ; 
and the highway on the south ; and the said An- 
thony Wright's "lot is given also to the said Henry 
Townsend. that adjoin to the aforesaid mill lot 
on the east, and Latting's salt meadow on the 
north end. and a highway on the west side, two 
poles broad, between the said stream, and mill 
lot, and the highway on the south ; and we give 
him also the salt meadow and upland, on the 
west side the mill stream, to a little stream of 
water, on the west side of it, and the sea is the 
north bounds; on the south a highway of six 
poles broad joining unto the Swamp, And we 
do hereby give unto Henry Townsend the said 
mill stream to build a mill or mills on it, as he 
shall see cause, and so to remain firm to him, his 
heirs, and assigns, so long as he or they do keep 
a mill on it, as aforesaid. But if the mill cease 
to be for half a year after it is built, and no 
preparation is made to repair the hiill aeain, that 
then the Town may lawfully enter on the River 
again, as their own, and improve it as the Town 
shall see necessary. But if the said Henry Town- 



TO W NSEND — TOWNSMEN D 



send's heirs or assigns make preparation to re- 
pair the mill, so that it be finished for service, 
after a year's decay, that the said stream shall 
continue his or theirs, on condition a mill be kept 
up, or else the stream to return to the Town, as 
aforesaid ; and therefore we give him by this 
full power to trench and dam, and to take what 
timber he hath need of for his use, and to have 
commoning for his cattle, and on our charges, we 
engage to trench and make a dam for the mill, 
as he shall give direction, when he calls to have 
it done. And we allow him the tenth part for 
grinding; but if, in process of time, the toll do 
so increase, that less may be sufficient to uphold 
the mill, so that the miller be not discouraged, 
he shall have less, as understanding men, in the 
case, chosen by him and us, shall judge. His 
toll dish to be made true, and to be struck in 
taking the toll, and we engage no other 
than what is before mentioned, shall be made 
join to the forementioned lands we have given 
to said Henry Townsend, and we are content, 
that the mill do app in 

a week to grind our corn, and that 

when the said Henry Townsend do fence in the 
above-said land, that such as have upland or 
meadow joining to the above said, shall join in 
fencing with him their half, according to Eng- 
lish custom, and is to have it, all rates and taxes 
free, forever, and to enter in present possession 
on the stream and lands. And so, to the true, 
and due, and faithful performance, of all and 
every of the above-mentioned engagements and 
promises, we bind us, our heirs and assigns, to 
perform, unto the said Henry Townsend, his 
heirs and assigns, as witness our hand, the day 
and year above written, upon condition he build 
a mill as aforesaid, serviceable to the Tow'n of 
Oyster Bay, in the condition the town now is in, 
as the Mill at Norwalk is serviceable to their 
town. 

"Nicholas Simkins, Robert Furman, Benjamin 
Hubbard, Richard Latting, Anthony Wright, 
Francis Weeks, Henry Disbrow, Richard Harcut, 
John Richbill, Nicholas Wright, Matthew Bridg- 
man. Town Clerk, John Finch, John Dickinson, 
Jonas Halstead, John Bates, John Townsend, 
Sen., John Townsend, Jr., Thomas Armitage." 

Some part of the land given in this grant only 
came into Henry Townsend's possession (or that 
of his sons) by purchase. It is impossible to 
fix the western boundary now, but, as it was a 
stream of water, it could not have been much if 
any west of the canal. 

The following entry, in relation to some dis- 
satisfaction with the miller, is an illustration of 
the simplicity of the habits and ideas of the 
people. Dr. P. Townsend says that Richard 
Harcut was the miller at one time, and probably 
when the complaint was made : 

"30th of 7th month, 1672. At a Town Meeting, 
ordered by reason of asper.^ions cast upon the 
miller, the Town have taken it into serious con- 
sideration, and have ordered, with the consent 
and agreement of Henry Townsend, owner of 
the mill, that if any person or persons do not 



like their usage at the mill, they are to give no- 
tice of it to the miller, and attend himself, or 
his wife, if he have one, and see their corn 
ground, if they will, but if they will not attend the 
grinding, and do cast blemishes, notwithstanding, 
on the miller, they are at liberty to grind it an- 
other place, and the miller at his liberty, whether 
he will grind again for any such person or per- 
sons until him or them do tender such reasonable 
satisfaction, as may be adjudged just by the 
Town." 

Henry Townsend also built a saw-mill, for the 
use of which the Town gave him the following 
grant of timber: 

"24th of gth month, 1673. A Town Meeting 
held, and granted by the Town, that Henry 
Townsend shall have, and hath liberty to make 
use of what timber he shall stand in need of for 
his saw-mill, within the bounds and limits of 
our Town, that is to be understood. Pine Island, 
or any other common lands, to make use of, 
either for building, or to sell in the town, or to 
sell out of the town, as he shall see cause : the 
said grant is to be understood to be to Henry 
Townsend and his heirs forever." 

It does not appear from the Records where this 
will was. Henry Townsend, 2d, Robert, and 
two of the Birdsalls, put up a saw-mill at Mill 
Neck, in 1694. In 1678, a grant was made to 
Isaac Horner, of the mill privileges at Shoo 
Brook, for a fulling-mill, but he did not build 
it ; and in 1684, it was given to John Dowsbury, 
who made e.xtensive improvements (among the 
rest a brick house), not very much to his ad- 
vantage, as upon his death the property was sold 
by the Sheriff, at the suit of Wm. Bradford, to 
Samuel Hayden, who again sold to Nicholas 
Lang, who at his death left a part of it to his 
son-in-law, William Moyles, who bought the 
rights of the other heirs. Moyles married the 
second time, Mary, widow of Ruemourn Town- 
send, to whose daughters, Mary Willis and Sarah 
Hewlett, he left one-third of his estate. Town- 
send Hewlett, the son of Sarah, bought from his 
mother and the other heirs, and left it to his 
son, the late Wm. M. Hewlett. 

In 1668, a piece of upland at A.sh Swamp was 
laid out to Nicholas Davis, with liberty to build 
a wharf into the sea, at what is now Ship Point 
(but not called by that name for some years 
afterwards). This grant was forfeited, and the 
foot of South street is called the Dock. 

The "old brick-kill" is mentioned in 1672, which 
seems to have been in the Cove. In 1678, there 
was a brick-yard near the brook, east of South 
street, then called Anthony's Brook, and the lot 
on the north side of the street was called the 
"clay lot" for a great many years. In 1680, a 
brick-kiln is mentioned on flog Island. The 
following will shows that, at the date of it, the 
testator was engaged in making brick : 

"Oyster Bay, 23d of the 8th month, 1673. I, 
William Risbie, Sen., of Oyster Bay, being sick, 
but having my understanding, and do not know 
what the Lord will do with me, concerning life 
or death, am willing to settle matters, so that 



57 



TOW N SEND — TOW NSHEND 



none may suffer by me ; and therefore I shall 
relate how matters stand, of what I owe, and is 
owing me; how my estate lieth, and in what, as 
followeth. I am indebted to Wni. Buckler, nine 
pounds; to Robert Coe, of Jamaica, I owe five 
pounds, and I do owe to George Dennis, forty- 
nine shillings, beside what my daughter Mary 
had, in broadcloth, — in all, it was three pounds 
nine shillings. I am indebted to James Brooking 
five pounds two; to John Gatts, ten shillings. I 
am something in debt to Joseph Carpenter, and 
Daniel Coles. To Nicholas Simkins, in brick, 
two pounds ten. To Samuel Weeks, twelve shil- 
lings. Here followeth an account of what is due 
me : From Thomas Townsend, ten shillings. 
Matthias Harvey owes me two pounds one shil- 
ling, and Joseph Ludlum owes me five shillings. 
Robert Bragall, at Hempstead, two pecks of 
wheat. Thomas Thomson owes me one bushel. 
James Townsend owes me five shillings ; and to 
John Rogers, I owe one pound one shilling. 
Jonathan Rock Smith have a mare of mine in 
his hands, and one gray mare and colt, at Matine- 
cock ; and of cow-kind, I have one young cow, 
and white steer, at Thomas Townsend's ; Samuel 
Weeks have a three-year old steer, and Elizabeth 
Townsend have another, of the same age ; and I 
have one more three-year old steer at Matthias 
Harvey's, and another at James Cock's, and an 
ox and cow at the Widow Underbill's, and I 
have two fat cows at Richard Harcut's, and 
John Dickenson's ; a cow at halves, and a steer 
I had of Adam Wright, and two three-year old 
heifers, at John Townsend's; and a cow I had of 
Nathaniel Coles, he is to have her agait for 
work. My will is, that my debts are to be paid 
oiit of my estate, and the remainder I give to 
Richard Harcurt, as witness my hand, except one 
cow, I give to my wife and daughter Sarah. 
"William X Risbie. 
"The mark of. 

"Memorandum.— I, William Risbie, do owe to 
Widow Dennis, or her order, 13.500 bricks, upon 
Richard Harcurt's account, and I, William Risbie, 
do own, that I have received full satisfaction for 
the aforesaid bricks, from Richard Harcurt, as 
witness my hand, in the presence of 

"Nathaniel Coles, William X Risbie. 

Benj. Hubbard. His mark." 

In 1694, "liberty is granted to Thomas Youngs, 
to spm rope yarn, and make rope in the Hollow 
by his shop, on the common, not prejudicing any 
highway." 

Although the people had little money, that 
did not deter merchants from trving their for- 
tunes here. The first mentioned is John Richbill, 
who soon sold his large interest in the town, and 
disappeared. Next we have George Dennis, who, 
after a few very busy years, was obliged to assign 
his property for the benefit of his creditors. Then 
Pierre Breton, merchant, sells his good sloop, the 
1 rue-Love,_ now lying, and lately built at Oyster 
A*^:i,*°i son-in-law, Pierre Dugo, mariner. 
At the close of the seventeenth century, we have 



a notable person, in the character of merchant, 
William Bradford, the first printer and publisher 
in New York; for several years before 1702 he 
is styled, in his deeds, merchant, of Oyster Bay; 
then, and after that, printer, of New York, though 
he appears to have carried on his publishing and 
printing while he lived here. Some of the old 
books of Records have an inscription to the 
effect that they were bought of William Brad- 
ford. 

The following entries show how the few poor 
were provided for, and how cases of intemper- 
ance were dealt with, for although intemperance 
is not stated to be the cause of the incapacity 
mentioned, in the second extract, it no doubt was, 
as the will of the father, Robert Furman, shows 
that Moses labored under no natural incapacity. 

"The 1st day of February, 1661. All we, whose 
names are here underwritten, do hereby engage 
ourselves that we will give freely, toward the 
maintenance of the Widow Draper, so much In- 
dian corn for a year, beginning at the ist day of 
February, 1661, to end the ist day of February, 
1662, provided we may be no more troubled 
with her, more than the rent of the house, and 
that there be some person appointed to receive it, 
and to look to it and her, so that it may not be 
wasted. So much corn as followeth : 

"John Richbill, 3 bush. ; Robert Furman, 2 
bush. ; John Townsend, Jr., i bush. ; Nicholas 
Wright, 2 bush. ; John Townsend, 2 bush. ; 
Thomas Armitage, 2 bush. ; Jones Halstead, 2 
bush. ; John Dickinson, 2 bush. ; Francis Weeks, 
2 bush.; Moses Furman, i bush.; Benj. Hubbard, 
2 bush. ; Henry Townsend, i bush. ; John Bates, 
I bush. ; Samuel Andrews, 3 bush." 

It will he observed that Moses Furman, who, 
in the following paper, acknowledges his inca- 
pacity to sell five shillings' worth, was one of the 
contributors. 

"This writing testifieth that I, Moses Furman, 
of Oyster Bay, upon divers considerations, finding 
myself not capable to deal with any man, or 
trade for the good of myself and family, being 
of a weak capacity, I do by these presents, con- 
stitute and appoint the officers of the Town of 
Oyster Bay, as now, and for the time to come, 
as overseers of my whole estate, for the use 
and maintenance of my wife and children as their 
own ; and I do further engage and promise not 
to make sale of, to the value of five shillings, at 
any time, without the consent of one or all the 
officers, that now are, or hereafter shall be, as 
witness my hand, in presence of us. 

"Saml. Andrews, Moses Furman." 

"Caleb Wright. 

After making this assignment of his property, 
Furman left, and the Town officers made ar- 
rangements with a man to take his property in 
charge, and provide for the wife, and fulfil his 
obligations to his mother, under his father's will ; 
and they also resolved to put out the children to 
be brought up, as they said the mother was not 
capable. Before they completed their design, 



58 



TQWNSEND — TOVVNSHEND 



Furman returned, and then left again, which he 
repeated to their great annoyance. 

There are frequent instances of differences be- 
ins settled by arbitration, boundaries being the 
principal cause of dispute, which is no more 
than might be expected, considering the extreme 
vagueness with which the boundaries of the land 
granted by the town are described, of which the 
mill grant is a striking instance, though it is 
not known that it occasioned any dispute. 

It is surprising how few allusions are made in 
the Records to boats, or ship-building, or to 
navigation in any way. We should think a boat 
as well worth mention in a will as many articles 
they bequeath; but they are never mentioned. 
Ship Point is so called early in the eighteenth 
century, perhaps a few years before that It is 
probable that, even then, there was a considerable 
trade here By the middle of the century, we 
know that the business was very important. 
Samuel Townsend was actively engaged in the 
English and West India trade, building and own- 
ing several ships of different kinds. William 
and Benjamin Hawxhurst, too, operated largely, 
owning fulling and grist mills at Cold Spring 
and a store (probably one at Cold Spring, and 
one at Oyster Bay), for which they imported 
goods from England. Their business was prob- 
ably more extensive than the held warranted, for 
they failed and removed to New \ork. Samuel 
Towu'iend continued his business prosperously 
until the Revolution, and through that period, 
notwithstanding many difficulties and obstructions 
After that, the trade of the place was transferred 
to New York. , 

There is not the slightest allusion made in the 
Record to the French War. The only person 
whom we know to have gone from the town was 
Melancthon Taylor Woolsey, son of the Rev. 
Benjamin Woolsey, who entered the army as 
Colonel, and died during the war. He vvas buried 
at Dosoris, his residence, which, after his death 
was sold to John Butler, from whom it descended 
to his daughter, the wife of Nathaniel Coles. 
Tames Townsend, of Duck Pond, was the ex- 
ecutor of Benjamin, the brother of Colonel 
Woolsey, and among other letters left in his 
hands were some from Colonel Woolsey, written 
during the war. The most of them were given 
by J. C. Townsend, to a descendant of Benjamin, 
but we have found three more, two of them re- 
lating to the disastrous attack on Ticonderoga, 
and the other, probably, written during his last 
sickness. We shall insert them, as interesting in 
themselves, and possessing a peculiar interest for 
the people of this Town, as coming from a 
townsman. 

"Juh Sth. 1758- 
"On Board the Fleet on Lake George. 

"Dear Brother :— The fate of Ticonderoga will 
doubtless be determined before this reaches you, 
as we are now embarked, with fourteen thou- 
sand troops, all eager for victory, and willing to 
expose themselves, in order to obtain it. You will 
doubtless be uneasy to hear from us after this, 
as it is most likely many of our fates will be 



unalterably fixed. But I have a strong impres- 
sion, that I shall survive the day of battle, and 
not because 1 desire to hide myself, but hope 
you may hear something honorable, whether I 
stand or fall. And as no man can tell the event, 
lest It should be my lot to be found among the 
slain, 1 shall now recommend to your kindness 
my wife and children, family, and estate, to be 
treated with the utmost tenderness, and disposed 
of, agreeable to a will, in Air. Lloyd's hands, 
which, I make no doubt, you will execute, with 
all the integrity, care, and prudence, you are 
master of, together with James and Joseph Lloyd. 
But nothwithsianding this hint, 1 hope soon to 
send you the agreeable news of the I'rench fort- 
resses, at the Narrows, and Crown Point, being 
subjected to our arms. Then we shall be willing 
to march and carry fire and sword into Canada, 
and return by the way of St. Lawrence. But 
be that as it will. Give my best regards to all 
friends and acquaintances. My duty to my 
mother. Love to your wife and family. I would 
have wrote to all my friends if time was my 
own, but nothing is to be seen here but one con- 
tinued round of hurry; so am forced to conclude, 
and am your most affectionate brother, 

"M. Taylor Woolsey." 

"Schenectady, 26//1 July, 1758- 
"Dear Brother:— I wrote you in high spirits, 
at the time of embarkation for Ticonderoga, when 
it seemed that Providence was lavish of smiles 
upon our enterprise, and we as foolish, in not 
making a proper use of the advantages put into 
our hands; for which neglect, the devil take 
somebody ! I also wrote you again on our return, 
or rather flight, giving some account of our hav- 
ing most sadly Be st the voyage, and suf- 
fered greatly, especially in the person of Lord 
Plowe, whose conduct and prudence, I make no 
doubt, would have saved the lives of many brave 
fellows, who were set as targets to be fired at 
by the enemy, without being allowed to return 
the fire; and had they returned it, would have 
been to but little purpose, as the enemy had a 
breastwork of wood and earth which quite cov- 
ered them. In this action we lost about eighteen 
hundred killed and wounded, amongst whom 
were a great many officers of worth. The only 
one among the provincials that you know, was 
your intended brother. Lieutenant Smith, whose 
wound proved mortal, notwithstanding the best 
endeavors of all the surgeons. He died the day 
after we were ordered to march to this place, 
and is much lamented by all his acquaintance 
with us. as he was esteemed an active, good of- 
ficer. Major Woodhull has taken care of all his 
effects, which you'll be good enough to inform 
his father of, and tell him I bear a part in his 
affliction. We are now under marching orders, 
and are going to the Oneida Carrying Place, as 
'tis said, to build a fort for some General Webb 
to destroy hereafter. 'Tis Colonel Delance/s 
opinion, as soon as this is completed, we are to 
be discharged, and, as our number will be about 
four thousand, suppose we may do it in two 

59 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



months. We have great desertions lately, and 
some deaths, but not of your acquaintance. We 
have one hundred and thirty sick, but most likely 
to do well. Give my best regards to all friends. 
My duty to mother. Love to my wife, and 
yours, with the little ones. 1 am in haste. Your 
loving brother, 

"M. Taylor Woolsey. 

"To Benj. Woolsey." 

"Schenectady, 24^/1 Aug., 1758. 

"Dear Brother: — Your favor, per the old post- 
boy, came safe to hand, at the Great Carrying 
Place, with the agreeable accounts of health and 
welfare of my friends on Long Island. Though 
at the time ot receiving your letter, I was myself 
very ill of a fever and flux, which occasioned my 
being sent to this place, which is one hundred 
miles from the regiment. Two days before 1 
left the army, there was a detachment from the 
several regiments of two thousand men, officers 
included, with seventy batteaux and seventy 
whaleboats, under the command of Colonel Brad- 
street, who are gone down the Wood Creek, into 
the Oneida Lake, to surprise, take, and destroy 
Cadroque, a fort on the lake, where the French 
keep their shipping and craft of all kinds. There 
are one thousand of the New York regiments 
gone on this expedition. Colonel Clinton, Colonel 
Corse, and Major Woodhull are the field-officers 
from one regiment, and all the soldiers from 
Long Island that were well are gone. As they 
have not been in action, we are in hopes of hear- 
ing some agreeable accounts from them soon. 
We have sundry times lately had certain accounts 
that Louisberg is taken, but soon turns out false. 
Last Saturday evening, on my arrival here, found 
the town illuminated, but whether true or false, 
can't yet determine. Have nothing to add, but 
duty, love, and good wishes to you all, and am 
your loving brother, 

"M. Taylor Woolsey. 

"I have so far recovered my health, that I hope 
to join the army in ten days or a fortnight. 

'•M. T." 

Major Woodhull, mentioned in these letters, 
was afterwards General Woodhull. who. after the 
battle of Long Island, was taken prisoner by the 
British, and died of wounds received after his 
surrender. 

THE TOWN SPOT, 

Or Plot, as it is sometimes called, extended from 
the foot of Mill Hill to Cove Hill, and as far 
south as the head of South street, which was the 
only one beside the Main street for some little 
time. In the old deeds, and even as late as 1748, 
South street is called the Main street, and was, 
no doubt, so considered. The one leading from 
Edward Weeks's to Pine Hollow was soon 
opened, and then that between Edward Weeks's 
and B. T. LTnderhill's. Quogne Lane was not 
opened for a good many years, and was at first 
called Oyster Lane. There was a road from the 



Main street to the water farther west, but the 
formation of the Pond and dam, and the subse- 
quent changes in them (the Pond was originally 
much smaller, and the dam at the east end 
farther south), make it impossible to determine 
localities in that immediate neighborhood with 
precision. East of that there is no difficulty, 
except in a few cases. 

The most western building in the Town Spot, 
for some years, was the mill, which stood very 
near what is now the southeast corner of George 
Townsend's yard. The house now there was, in 
1720, called Esther Townsend's new dwelling- 
house, and was probably built by her (the widow 
of Mill John). The one which was on the Hill, 
northeast of the present house, was probably 
built by Henry Townsend, Sen., in 1683. For a 
great many years after the mill was built, the 
bolting was done by hand, by the owners of the 
grain. Henry Townsend 2d sold to Win. Brad- 
ford twenty-five acres, just south of his house, 
on the Hill (including the graveyard, which he 
reserved, being one acre). Here Bradford erected 
a bolting-house; Henry 3d repurchased the whole 
in 1703. It is not known when or by whom the 
second mill, which stood near the present flood- 
gate, was built, but probably by Jotham, son of 
Mill John. The mill now standing was built 
near the close of the last century, by James 
Townsend, of Duck Pond, and his son William. 

East of the mill-dam, on the south side of the 
street, the first house belonged to Richard Har- 
cut, and the next was built by John Washbourne, 
and sold to James Halsted, who very soon sold to 
Richard Harcut, and he (Harcut), moving to the 
other end of the town, gave one or both of these 
places to his son Daniel. East of this was Mark 
Meggs's place. He very soon disappears from 
the Records. Across the street was a place be- 
longing to Richard Latting, which he sold to 
Samuel Andrews. At the bottom of the deed is a 
memorandum that Latting owed four days' work 
on the dam, and no more ; from which we gather 
that the lots were assessed for labor on the dam, 
and the obligation transferred with the property. 

Next, east of this, Henry Townsend bought, 
or built ; and next to him. on what is now the 
corner of Quogue Lane, Henry Disbrow built, 
and, in 1661, sold to John Dickenson, who in the 
same year sold to James Cock (or Coke, as it 
is sometimes spelled), of Setauket. In 1669, 
Henry Townsend bought and gave it to his son 
John ; and in 1683, having six acres laid out to 
him upon the Hill, he built there, and gave the 
one in which he lived to his son Henry. John 
and Henry then exchanged houses, and their 
descendants exchanged, until it is difficult to 
know or remember to whom they belong. They 
sold it off, too, by degrees, until, a few years 
after the death of Jotham, in about 1756, the 
whole, from Quogue Lane to the mill-stream, be- 
longed to Benjamin Hawxhurst, as well as a 
quarter of an acre on the south side of the road. 
It was bought again by the son of Jotham. 

East of Quogue Lane. John Dickenson lived on 
a lot bought from John Hinksman, in 1658, the 



60 



T O W NSEND — TOWNSHEND 



second deed from a white -man on the Records. 
It is as follows : 

"To all Christian people, to zvhom this shall or 
may come, grccttng: Be it known unto all men, 
that I, John Hinksman, late of Oyster Bay, have 
sold, and by these presents do alienate, bargain, 
and sell, and have sold, unto John Dickenson, of 
Oyster Bay, aforesaid, all and singular all that 
parcel of land which I exchanged with Peter 
Wright, with all and singular all the fencing, 
meadows, and uplands that is or shall thereunto 
belong, with all the appurtenances or privileges 
whatsoever, to him, his heirs, or assigns, forever ; 
for and in consideration hereof, John Dickenson 
hath paid unto the said John Hinksman, in 
broadcloth, at eighteen shillings a yard, the full 
and just sum of three pounds sterling, and 
twenty shillings paid in liquor to the Town of 
Oyster Bay, by the hand of John Dickenson. 
Also, a quart of sack and half a pint of liquor 
to Peter Wright, for the exchange. In witness 
hereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this day of 
Feb., in the year of our Lord one thousand six 
hundred and fifty-nine. John Hinksman." 

This place was bequeathed by John Dickenson 
to his widow Elizabeth, who left it to her young- 
est son, Jobus, by the will we copy below. It 
passed from him to Joseph, who married Rose, 
daughter of Henry Townsend, whose grandsons, 
Townsend and Henry, sold it to Daniel Parish, 
in 1756. 

"In the name of God, amen. I, Elizabeth 
Dickinson, widow, of Oyster Bay, in Queen's Co., 
on Long Island, and in the Colony of New York, 
being somewhat weakly and sick, but in perfect 
memory and understanding, praised be God, I 
now make my last will and testament, as fol- 
loweth ; Imp. I bequeath my body to the earth, 
and my soul to God that gave it. Imp. I give 
to my son Jobus my house and lot, with the 
orchard and meadow adjoining it, meaning all 
that I now possess adjoining to my house and 
home lot, in Oyster Bay aforesaid, with a half a 
share of meadow on the West Neck, at the south 
of Oyster Bay aforesaid, during his natural life; 
also, I give to him, the said Jobus, one bed, and 
a bolster, a pillow, and coverlet, and blanket, 
with one sheet ; and at my son Jobus his decease, 
all this that I have given him I do give to my 
eldest son Joseph, him and his heirs forever. 

"Imp. I give to my son Samuel, five shares of 
land, at the plains, more than that which I have 
already given him, and this to be his full portion. 

"Imp. I give to my son James, two-thirds, or 
two rights of three, of my land in the Old 
Purchase of Oyster Bay, on the west side 
of Nicholas Wright's land, in the Old Purchase, 
going to Lusum, as the Records of Oyster Bay 
showeth how it is bounded and laid out, vyith 
half a share of meadow on the West Neck, at 
Oyster Bay south, five acres of land at the 
plains; and my right of commonage belonging to 
my home lot I give to my three sons, Samuel, 



Jobus, James, equally between them. Also, I give 
to my son James, one bed, a bolster, a pillow, a 
coverlet, a blanket, and one sheet. Imp. I give 
to my daughter Hannah, my bed I lie on, with 
the bolsters, and two pillows, a coverlet, two 
blankets, a pair of sheets, with the curtains and 
vallons belonging to it, with one chest, two pillow 
covers. 

"Imp. I give all my cart, and plough gear, and 
tacklings, with the cart and plough and that 
which belongs to it, to my son James. Imp. I 
give to my grandson, Robert Harcut, two sheep. 
All the residue of my estate I give to my young- 
est daughters, Mehetable, Cheshire, and Hannah, 
both of household goods and with all that I am 
possessed of, after my debts are paid and other 
charges necessary are paid out of it. Lastly, I do 
make my son Joseph my full and whole executor, 
to dispose of my estate according to this my last 
will and testament above written. And also I do 
make John Townsend at the mill, with my son 
Joseph, to be overseers of this my last will, 
which I declare to be my last will and testament, 
as witness my hand and seal, this loth Sept., 
1691. Eliz.\beth Dickinson." 

Gideon, the son of Peter Wright, married 
Elizabeth, daughter of John Townsend isl, and 
settled on the place now belonging to Edward 
Weeks. His son Anthony sold it to Justice John 
Townsend, from whom it descended to his son 
Penn, who built the house now upon it. We give 
the will of Gideon Wright below ; it is a good 
specimen of the manner in which the people 
generally left their property : 

"In the name of God, I, Gideon Wright, being 
weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory, 
do tnake and ordain this my last will and testa- 
ment, in manner and form following: First, I 
bequeath my body to the earth and my soul into 
the hands of God that gave it. Itt. I give to my 
eldest son, Peter Wright, all my right of that 
homestead belonging to me, which was of late in 
the possession of my mother, Alice Crabb, lately 
deceased, formerly belonging to my father Peter 
Wright. Itt. I give all the rest of my land to be 
equally divided among my other four sons, until 
they are made equal to my son Peter, and what 
remains over their being made equal to my son 
Peter to be divided equally among my five sons, 
Peter to have his choice of the said five divisions, 
which land above mentioned I give to my sons 
and their heirs forever; and it is my will, that 
none of my sons alienate or dispose of any of my 
lands given to them from their brethren, and 
that their brethren shall have the refusal, and if 
their brethren can or will buy the said land so 
for sale, that then it shall not be sold off ui o 
any other; and it is my will, that if any sons die 
without issue, that then his or their part of land 
shall go to be equally divided among the sur- 
viving brethren. Itt. I give the one half of my 
movables to my three daughters, and the other 
half to my wife, for her to dispose of as she 
thinks fit ; only I give to my son Peter my bald- 

61 



:;f(v 



T O W N S E N D — T O AV N S H E N D' 



face mare, and he shall give the first colt that 
she brings to his brother Gideon, and I also give 
to my son Peter, one two-year-old heifer, and 
to my sons Anthony and Gideon, to each of 
them, a calf; and it is my will, that my wife 
shall have and possess this place and homestead 
in which I live, with what outlands she shall 
stand in need of during her widowhood as afore- 
said. Itt. It is my will, that if one or more 
of my daughters happen to die before they come 
to age, that their portion shall return to the 
surviving sister or sisters. To which, as a testi- 
mony that it is my last will and testament, I 
set my hand and seal, this 14th day of May, 
1685. Gideon Wright." 

Notwithstanding the eight children, the home- 
stead was forfeited. 

Peter Wright's homestead was next to John 
Dickinson's. He may be called the founder of 
Oyster Bay. He was the only one of the orig- 
inal three purchasers who settled here; and of 
those whom they admitted as partners, not one 
continued longer than ten years, excepting his 
brother Anthony, who had no children ; but Peter 
and his brother Nicholas left large families, and 
for many years they were, in point of ability, in- 
fluence, and fortune, among the leading men of 
the town. Peter's homestead included Mrs. 
Wright's and Mrs. De Kay's places. The part 
belonging to Mrs. Wright was sold by Anthony, 
grandson of Peter, to William, grandson of 
Nicholas, to whose descendants it still belongs. 
The other part, we believe, was sold by Anthony 
to Henry Townsend 3d, from whose son Absalom 
It descended to his great-granddaughter, Mrs. 
Storrs, by whom it was sold not very many 
years since. On this part Peter's house stood. 
Opposite to Peter Wright's, from the corner half 
way down to South street, was the homestead of 
Nicholas Wright. He gave the east part of it 
to his son Caleb, who lived there until his 
father's death, when he inherited the whole. It 
has remained in the family until a few years 
since, when the heirs of the late Caleb Wright 
sold it. The house had been many years ago 
!abandoned by the family for one built across the 
[street on Peter's place. In 1720, William, son 
of the 1st Caleb, gave to the Baptist Society forty 
feet square, on which the church then stood, 
being a part of the present lot. The trustees 
■were Robert Feeke and Joseph Weeks. The 
place now owned by B. T. Underbill was given 
by Nicholas Wright to his son John, who mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Henry Townsend. From 
him it descended to his daughter Rose, who left 
it to her son, Wright Coles ; when or to whom 
it passed from his heirs, does not appear on the 
Records. There is every reason to believe that a 
part of the house now there was built by John 
Wright. 

Next south, Josias Latting, son-in-law of Nich- 
olas \yright, had a lot laid out to him, and built 
upon it. South of him, Edmond, son of Nicholas, 
son-in-law of Peter Wright, lived. Josias Lat- 
ting sold to William Buckler (or Butler; it is 



spelled both ways in one deed), whose son Richard 
sold to the heirs of Edmond Wright. From Ed- 
mond Wright 2d. both places united passed to 
his son-in-law, John Townsend, from whom it 
descended to his son Ephraim, whose heirs sold 
to James Prior, who sold to Jacob Colwell, from 
whose heirs it was bought by its present owner, 
J. C. Townsend. In the old deeds (not the 
very oldest, however) possession is said to be 
given by turf and twig, which we supposed to 
be a mere figure of speech, until we found the 
following entry in relation to the sale by Latting: 

"Josias Latting did give Wm. Buckler posses- 
sion of the house and land that he sold him in 
Oyster Bay, by turf and twig, according to law, 
in presence of the Constable and Overseers of 
Oyster Bay and several neighbors, the 22d of 
April, 1676." 

Nicholas Wright left a handsome estate, which 
he divided among his three sons, but made no 
disposition in his will of his personal estate, or 
mention of his daughters. To supply this omis- 
sion we find the following settlement : 

"Whereas, our father and mother, Nicholas 
and Ann Wright, deceased, and left a consider- 
able estate amongst us, their children, under- 
written ; and for a true settlement of said estate, 
and prevention of further contests and troubles 
that may arise thereby, we do jointly and unani- 
mously agree, and freely condescend to each 
other, that our father's will for the division and 
stating of his lands upon his sons, according to 
his will, shall stand good to them, and their heirs 
forever; and, forasmuch as there was no certain 
order in the said will, or at the death of our 
mother, for the division of the movable estate, 
as left by our deceased father and mother, we 
do unanimously agree, that all the said movable 
estate shall be for the sisters' portions, to be di- 
vided as they shall order or agree, excepting only 
all the neat-cattle, one great kettle, and all the 
iron-work belonging to the cart and plough, and 
our deceased father's clothes, to be divided among 
his three sons; and in consideration, by agree- 
ment, that our brother, Caleb Wright, is to have 
all the neat-cattle, as above said, excepting only 
two heifers, one in the possession of John, the 
other in the possession of Edmond, for which 
they, with their brother Caleb, are equally to pay 
all their deceased father's and mother's debts, 
and acquit and discharge their sisters from any 
trouble of demand that may arise thereby, and 
their heirs forever; and Caleb Wright doth en-, 
gage, in consideration of the cattle, as above 
mentioned, to pay to his four sisters, their hus- 
bands', or their order, ten pounds current, mer- 
chant pay, according to pork, at threepence per 
pound, at or before the first day of November, 
next ensuing the date underwritten. And the 
movables that are to be divided amongst our 
sisters, is the swine, horseflesh, brass, pewter, tin, 
iron, wooden ware, woollen, linen, silver, gold, 
earthenware, or what else be to the said estate 
whatsoever only what is above excepted ; and to 
the true performance of this our agreement, we 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



have interchangeably subscribed our hands to each 
other, in Oyster Bay, June 4th, 1683. 

"Caleb Wright, Josias Latting, 
"John Wright, Nathaniel Coles, 

"Edmund Wright, Robert Coles. 
In presence of us, 

"Richard Harcut, Constable. 
"Thomas Townsend, Recorder. 
"John Weeks, Overseer." 

Returning to the Main street, we find, next 
east to Peter Wright, the homestead of his 
brother Anthony, extending to South street. He 
had no children, and, from his recorded gifts, 
must have been a warm-hearted, generous man. 
He died September gth, 1680, and left his whole 
property to his sister-in-law Alice, the widow of 
Peter, then the wife of Richard Crabb. She 
gave this homestead to her youngest daughier, 
Lydia, the wife of Isaac Horner, in 1684, re- 
serving "si.x rods square, at the northeast corner, 
as already agreed upon, for a burying-place, and 
forty feet square, at the southeast corner, where 
the meeting-house now stands." There is no 
tradition that this spot was ever used as a grave- 
yard, though, for at least fifty years, it was called 
the Quaker Burying-Ground. In 1706, William 
Willis, of Hempstead, Henry Cock, and John 
Prior, received a deed for it from Isaac Horner, 
in which he says that it was deeded to him, Sam- 
uel Andrews, and Simon Cooper, by Alice Crabb, 
in 1682. From Dr. P. Townsend's Note-Book, it 
appears that the Records of the meeting in New 
York, mention the "usual meeting-house of An- 
thonie Wright ;" and as the meetings had been 
held at his house, it is probable that he either 
left the land to them, or directed Alice Crabb 
to give it, if he did not build the house him- 
self. In the Records of the Westbury meeting, 
we find the trustees are directed, in 1709, to see 
about leasing the meeting-house ground and bury- 
ing-ground, in Oyster Bay : so that the meeting- 
house had then disappeared. They were to re- 
serve liberty for Friends to bury there. In 1720, 
they exchanged the forty feet square, on the cor- 
ner, with Jacob Wright, for another piece, ad- 
joining the burying-ground, forming the present 
lot. This was leased, in 1736, to Freelove Under- 
bill, for twenty years. In 1749, Jacob Seaman and 
Nathaniel Townsend were directed to buy shingles 
for the meeting-house at Oyster Bay, which 
marks the date of the present edifice. While the 
lot was leased a house was built upon it, which 
was sold, to be removed when the term expired. 
There was no regular service in this meeting- 
house (which was very much injured during the 
occupation of the place by the British) until the 
latter part of the century, when meetincs were 
held here and at Jericho ; the latter eflfort re- 
sulted in the establishment of a meeting, and the 
building of a house; here they were, after a while, 
discontinued. For the rest of this home lot of 
Anthony Wright's (six acres), so few convey- 
ances are on the Records, that it is not possible 
to trace it clearly. 

63 



North of this was the lot which was laid oat 
to Samuel Mayo ; he did not settle there, and 
Anthony Wriglit gave it to Job, his brother 
Peter's son, in 1677. Job built the house which 
now stands upon it. It was sold by his son 
Anthony to Rose, widow of Justice John Towns- 
end, who sold it to her son-in-law, George 
Townsend, in 1712, who, in the same year, sold 
it to Abraham Underbill, whose son gave it to 
his sister Sarah, who, with her husband, James 
Dickinson, sold it to Jacob Townsend, who, we 
believe (the description is not entirely clear), 
sold it to Silas Weeks, when it disappears for a 
long time, and is then mentioned as in the pos 
session of Joshua Hammond. In all the deeds, 
the "dubble house" is a very conspicuous feature. 

North of this was the lot laid out to John 
Thomson, the blacksmith ; when he left, it was 
sold to Joseph Ludlam. North of this again, was 
a lot laid out to Georg:e Dennis ; when he failed, 
it was sold by his assignee, Thomas Townsend, 
to Edward White, of Setauket, in 1682. White 
afterwards bought Joseph Ludlam's lot, and the 
place is still the residence of his descendants. 

Coming back to the Main street again, on the 
south side, from Nicholas Wright's to South 
street, lay the lot of the Rev. William Leverich; 
his son Eliezer sold it, in 1658, to Nicholas Sim- 
kins, the son-in-law of Francis Weeks. This 
deed is the first, from a white man, on the 
Records. Simkins sold it to .A.lice Crabb, and 
removed to Musketocove in 1668, when this place 
had on it twenty-four apple-trees in bearing, and 
one pear-tree. Alice Crabb gave it to her son, 
Adam Wri.cht, who moved to Cedar Swamp, and 
S' Id to Nathaniel Coles, Sen., who. in 1691, gave 
it to his son Nathaniel, then lately married t» 
Rose, daughter of John Wright. From him it 
descended to his son. Wright Coles, who (or his 
heirs) sold to Samuel Townsend, whose heirs 
sold to Dr. Seely, from whom it passed to the 
present owners. 

South of this, the homestead was owned by 
Benjamin Hubbard, who built the houses for- 
merly belonging to the Chadcaynes. In 1669 he 
sold to Josias Latting, who not many years after 
removing to Matinecock, where he had bought 
land of the Indians, sold it to Edmond Wright 
From iiis son Edmond, it descended to his son- 
in-law, John Townsend, who sold to Absalom 
'i'ownsPMd, from whom it was bought by William 
Butler, who sold it, or at least the south part 
of it, to Tristrim Dodge, who gave it to his 
daughters. This place, at that time, extended 
through to the back street, as the one running 
by B. T. Underbill's was called. Upon this back 
street, somewhere, probably on the property of 
Edmond Wright (as his daughter, the wife of 
John Townsend. was a leading member), was the 1 
New-Light Meeting-House. It was taken down 
by the British, and set up in another place. The 
next house in South street was built by Richard 
Hnlbrook, the first erected in the town, and sold 
by him to Jonas Halstead. Holbrook removed 
to Connecticut. His will is so quaint, and shows 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



so moch of the simplicity of their manners and 
ideas, that we shall copy it, though he was a 
resident of the town but a short time. 

"This is the last will and testament of Richard 
Holbrook, of Milford, in the Colony of Connecti- 
cut, March 29th, 1670. 

"I, Richard Holbrook, being in perfect mem- 
ory, though weak in body, do here make my last 
will and testament, as followeth. Item. I give 
unto my son, Abel Holbrook, my loom, and all 
the tackling belonging to it, and he shall work 
with them for his mother, and maintain them, 
and these shall be his when he is married. Item. 
My will is, that my son, Abel Holbrook, shall 
live with his mother, and be obedient unto her, 
and work for her, until he is married, and at the 
day of his marriage, he shall receive the loom, 
with all the gears. Item. I give unto my son 
Abel, above mentioned, my gray mare. Item. I 
give unto my son, Israel Holbrook, my yearling 
mare colt. Item. I give unto my son, Peletiah 
Holbrook, the first colt that either of these two 
mares has, and they shall bring it up for him. 
Item. I give unto my three daughters which are 
unmarried, Mary Holbrook, Hannah Holbrook, 
and Patience Holbrook, those of them which 
marry while their mother lives : Item. My will 
is, that their mother shall endeavor to give them 
ten pounds a piece, so soon as she can, after 
the day of their marriage; but if they live with 
her until the day of her death : Item. My will is, 
that after their mother is dead, the household 
goods and cittle shall be equally divided between 
these my three daughters, above mentioned, Mary 
Holbrook, Hannah Holbrook, and Patience Hol- 
brook. 

"Item. My will is, that if my beloved wife, 
Agnes Holbrook. should marry again, then what 
estate is then, in household goods and cattle, 
shall then be equally divided between her and 
her daughters, above mentioned, Mary Holbrook, 
Hannah Holbrook, and Patience Holbrook. Item. 
My will is, that the day of my beloved wife's 
decease, or marrying again, which of them shall 
first happen, my house and land shall then be 
equally divided between my three sons, above 
mentioned, Abel Holbrook, Israel Holbrook, Pela- 
tiah Holbrook. 

"Item. My will is, that if any of these my three 
sons, above mentioned, Abel Holbrook, Israel 
Holbrook, and Pehtiah Holbrook, doth prove 
perverse or disobedient unto their mother's law- 
ful commands, or will not live with her, then 
they shall have no right unto my house and land, 
above mentioned ; then those of them that are 
obedient shall have it. Item. Unto my son, John 
Holbrook, I give one shilling. I give unto my 
son, Daniel Holbrook, one shilline. Item. I give 
unto my daughter Abigail one shilling, she having 
received her portion already. Item. My will is, 
that my beloved wife, Agnes Holbrook, shall be 
my whole and sole executrix. In witness where- 
of, I do hereunto set my hand, and seal. 

"Richard Holbrook." 



In 1661, Jonas Halstead sold the place to John 
Townsend, who died in 1668. His widow Eliza- 
beth, in 1670, built the house, which was pulled 
down a few years ago, by Daniel Cock. Her son 
George inherited it from her, and, in 1742, his 
son Samuel sold it to John Youngs, reserving 
the burying-ground, six rods from east to west, 
four from north to south, to his family and re- 
lations, forever. Youngs sold to Absalom Town- 
send, who sold again to William Butler, from 
whom it was bought by Samuel Townsend, of the 
Jericho family; his heirs sold to to Ephraini 
Townsend, from whose heirs it was bought by 
Daniel Cock, who sold to the Rev. Aaron Jack- 
son, the present owner. 

South of this, Thomas Armitage built. In 1663, 
he sold it to John Townsend, from whom it de- 
scended to his son Daniel. The three acres and 
three-quarters, forming the point, was also bought 
by John Townsend, and fell to his son James, 
who built upon it, but, removing to Cedar 
Swamp, sold it to David Underbill, from whom 
it was bought by Daniel Townsend, and, together 
with Daniel's homestead, descended to his son 
Robert, who exchanged the whole with Caleb 
Coles, for land at Duck Pond. At the head of 
South street, on the corner of Pine Hollow Road, 
Isaac Doughty had a homestead, which he sold 
to John Weeks. East of this was a house owned 
by David Underbill, which he sold to Samuel 
Maccoon. 

On the east side of South street, on the corner, 
was the homestead of Joseph, son of Francis 
Weeks. He married a daughter of Henry Rudick, 
and when his father-in-law died, went to Matine- 
cock, upon his wife's property, and gave this 
place to his son Henry, who sold to his brother 
John ; which is its last appearance on the Rec- 
ords. 

North of this was the home lot of John, son 
of Francis Weeks; he left it to his only son, 
Nathaniel, who dying without issue, it passed to 
his sisters, Phebe, wife of Richard Youngs, and 
Susannah, wife of Richard Townsend. The latter 
sold to her sister, who sold again to her nephew, 
John Townsend, from whom it was bought by 
George Weeks ; which is the last we hear of it. 
Next to this was a vacant lot, belonging to John 
Townsend 2d, who sold it to John Rogers. 

Then came the house of Samuel, son of Fran- 
cis \yeeks. He also married a daughter of Henry 
Rudick, and removed to Matinecock, but this 
place continued in his name, nor is there any 
transfer of it recorded. 

Next, north, was the house and lot of John 
Underhill, Jr. (his father. Captain John Under- 
bill, had a house in the Town Spot before he 
settled at Matinecock, which he sold to George 
Dennis, but there is nothing in the deed by 
which it can be identified). He sold it, in 1663, 
to Thomas Townsend. North of this was a half- 
lot and house, belonging to the wife of John 
Rogers. The last house belonged to John Town- 
send 2d, who, in 1668, sold to his brother Thomas, 
who, in 1673, exchanged the south half of the 

64 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



lot, which he bought of Underbill with the 
house, for the half-lot of Mrs. Rogers, that lay 
between his two lots, reserving the use of the 
house until he finished a new one, wliicli new 
one was that lately owned by Mrs. Summers. 
This house and double lot he gave to his son. 
Justice John Townsend, and bought again the 
house and lot he had sold to Mrs. Rogers, and 
the vacant lot sold by his brother to her hus- 
band, and gave them to his daughter Freelove, 
wife of Thomas Jones, who, in 1712, sold to 
George Townsend; after which there are no con- 
vevances for either place. 

North of Thomas Townsend's lot, the swamp, 
opposite to Nicholas Simkin's's home lot, be- 
longed to him, and was transferred with it two or 
three times. The north end of it belonged to 
Isaac Horner, who sold it to John Dowsbury, 
from whom it passed to John Newman, who had 
already bought from John Robinson, the original 
owner, the homestead east of the swamp, extend- 
ing to the place now owned by Mrs. Miner. The 
brook running out of the swamp, and the bridge 
over it, were then (1680), and for many years 
after, called Anthony's Brook and Anthony's 
Bridge, after Anthony Wright. It is a pity that 
a name commemorative of one of the very first 
settlers, and a particularly estimable man, should 
have been dropped, to be replaced by nothing. 
John Newman was Town-Clerk for eleven years ; 
the entries he made are a most honorable monu- 
ment to his memory. He died in 1697, intestate, 
without heirs. In 1700, Edward White seems to 
have the property in charge. Nothing more is 
heard of it until 1733, when the Hon. Captain 
Charles Boyles petitions the Provincial authori- 
ties to be allowed to take up the land of John 
Newman, who, besides this place, owned quite 
a large estate in different parts of the town. This 
petition was granted, upon certain conditions. 
The honorable Captain probably lent his name 
and influence, for a consideration, to William 
Moyles, an Englishman, who lived here and knew 
the situation of the property; he sold this place, 
by power of attorney from Boyles, to Samuel 
Shaw, and bought, or by some means came into 
PQSsession of, part of the property himself. 
Among the papers of William M. Hewlett was a 
receipt to Moyles, for papers and accounts from 
Thomas and 'Walter Buchanan, as agents for 
Boyles's heir, the Earl of Glasgow. A great stir 
was made, about thirty years ago, among the 
owners of this Newman property, by a report 
that Boyles's heirs were coming to claim it. 

East of Newman's place was the homestead of 
Samuel Andrews, son-in-law of Peter Wright, 
consisting of seventeen acres. In 1683 he re- 
moved to New Jersey, and sold this place to Jo- 
seph Ludlam for fioo. In 1694, Ludlam sold it 
to Mill John Townsend, and his daughter Zeru- 
iah, married to Dr. Matthew Parish, inherited it. 
From her it descended to her son John, who 
lived upon it to a very advanced a.ge ; after his 
death the house fell down, and his heirs sold it 
to Thomas Kilner, from whom it was bought 
by Ezra Miner, whose heirs now own it. In 



1669, a highway was ordered to be opened cast 
of Andrews's place; it was only carried a short 
distance, and some years afterward it was ordered 
to be opened through, to Nan's Hollow, "near the 
wolf-pit of Nathaniel Coles, Jr., and Daniel 
Townsend." There is another wolf-pit mentioned, 
in what is now Fleet's woods. A hollow beside 
the bars on the Swamp Road, south of Wm. T. 
McCoun's gate, was pointed out to J. C. Town- 
send by his father as a wolf-pit. There was a 
reward of ten shillings for killing a wolf, to be 
paid by the Town-Clerk, upon the presentation 
of the head or claws. The County also paid a 
bounty on their heads, and, when that was with- 
drawn, the Town offered twenty shillings. From 
the following notice, it would appear that a good 
many must have been killed. 

"Aug. 1st, 1661. It is ordered by the Town, 
that every townsman shall bring in all their dues, 
for wolf-killing, against the next Town meeting, 
at Anthony Wright's. It being three shillings a 
man." 

On the north side of the Main street, from 
South street to Ship Point Lane, there were no 
houses for a great many years. In 1677, a large 
part of it was set apart for a perpetual common, 
and as a site for a Town-House, which was to 
be twenty-four feet by twenty. It was in use in 
1684, and probably before; but, for many years 
after. Town Meetings were frequently held at 
private houses. When and how this property 
came into the possession of the Episcopal Church, 
does not appear. The church was used as a 
Town-House, nearly, if not quite, up to the 
Revolution. 

The first mention of Harry Wilson's house is 
in 1752; the lot had been sold in 1739, but there 
is nothing said of a house. In 1757, there was 
still a highway between the house and the church- 
yard. There was no house on the corner of the 
Main and South streets, as late as 1753. East of 
the churchyard, and adjoining it, Thomas Towii- 
send, at a very early date, sold an acre to Morris 
Shadbolt, but there is no proof that it was built 
upon for many years. 

In 1667, a half acre was laid out to Nathaniel 
Coles. He built very near, if not exactly, where 
the present Ship Point house stands. After his 
death, his son Barak sold it to his brother-in-law, 
Samuel Maccoon. East of this, and nearer to the 
point, John Richbill had a house, which he sold 
to Matthias Harvey. Robert Coles, son of Na- 
thaniel, had a homestead on the Ship Point 
place, probably on the east corner of the Main 
street. On the south side of the Main street, 
cast of Coon's Lane, was Richard Crabb's home- 
stead; he left it to his step-daughter, Lydia 
Wright; she, with her husband. Isaac Horner, 
removing to New Jersey, sold it to Eliezer 
Darby, and he to John Rogers, from whom it 
was {)Ought by Thomas Weeks, who already had 
a homestead adjoining it on the east. The next 
time it appears, the two together are sold by 
Edward White to Samuel Maccoon, in 1700; after 
which it is found no more on the Records. But 
it was the homestead of Augustine Weeks, by 

65 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



whose son Refine it was sold to Walter Franklin, 
who sold it to Albert Albertson, the trustees of 
whose great-granddaughter sold it, not long since, 
to John and Joseph Wright. All the deeds for 
this place on the Town Records bound it on the 
east "by ye Town's burying-ground," and when 
i the highway was ordered between Francis and 
Thomas Weeks (now Latten's and Irvin's) it vvas 
to go through the Town's burying-ground, which 
was reserved for that purpose forever. It is 
probable that few, if any, were buried there but 
those who owned the place, as almost every place 
had a graveyard on it. 

East of this was the place of Francis Weeks, 
who gave it to his youngest son, Daniel, from 
whom it descended to his sons Solomon and Abra- 
ham, and was divided between them by their 
guardian, Henry Weeks. There are no traces of 
it after this. On the east of his homestead, 
Francis Weeks gave two acres to his son James, 
on which he built, and he received another acre 
from the Town, on the east. He gave it to his 
youngest son, Edmond, which is all we know 
about it. 

The ne.xt place was laid out to Samuel Fur- 
man. It passed through the hands of many per- 
sons, whose names are now entirely unknown 
here; it then disappears. It is a part of Mrs. 
Irving's place. 

Then came a place which was one of the first 
built upon, by Walter Salter, and was called 
Salter's Lot for a great many years. It con- 
tained six acres, and ran so far east as to take 
in William Tomlin's place. It was sold by Salter 
to Matthew Prior, and by him to Henry Town- 
send, Sen., who gave it, in 1673, to his daughter, 
Susannah Furman, who sold it many years after- 
wards to a man named Tillot, from whom there 
is no conveyance. It was bounded on the east 
by a road which ran along the west side of the 
swamp, and, turning to the west, came out in 
the road that was then called the highway to 
the plains. 

On the east side of this road, was the home- 
stead of Richard Harcurt, who left it to his son 
Benjamin, in a will which we annex. In this 
and other cases of ridiculously small legacies, 
neither the poverty of the testator nor his in- 
difference to the legatee is to be inferred ; it is 
simply their way of testifying their remembrance 
of a child whose portion has already been paid. 

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Richard Har- 
curt, of Oyster Bay, in Queen's County, some- 
what sick of body, but perfect and whole in 
memory and understanding, praised be God for 
it ! do now make my last will and testament, as 
followeth : Imprimis. I bequeath my soul into 
the hands of God that gave it, and my body to be 
buried, with Christian burial, at the discretion of 
my executrix. Itt. I give and bequeath unto 
my oldest son, Daniel Harcurt, my lot of up- 
land, lying on the West Neck, at the south of 
Oyster Bay, aforesaid ; meaning my southernmost 
lot of the first south division of the said neck, 
containing about six acres, be it more or less; 



the bounds, limits, and numbers of the lot, is 

plainly demonstrated in the record thereof. And 
also I do give the said Daniel the one-half of 
my lot, or share of meadow, lying on West 
Neck aforesaid ; this I give to my son Daniel, 
beside what I formerly gave him, for his portion, 
before he was married, of which the Records of 
Oyster Bay plainly showeth ; and the lands I 
have now given to my son Daniel, shall be, and 
remain to him and his heirs forever. Itt. I give 
to my wife Miriam, the use of three acres of 
land in my new field, of three acres in my old 
field, and one-half of my pasture lot, at home, 
and one-third part of my dwelling-house and 
orchard, during her life; but if she marries 
again, she shall no longer have any right nor 
claim to any of this that I have given her, but 
to leave it to him or them, as I shall hereafter 
dispose of it. I also do give my said wife the 
one-third part of all my movable estate, both 
without doors and within, of household stuff, 
cattle, under what denomination soever it goeth, 
and for her to dispose of as she see cause. My 
will is, that my wife shall have the use of my 
dwelling-house, but if she see cause to live by 
herself, then she shall have the brick house to 
live in during her widowhood, any words before 
written to the contrary notwithstanding ; and she 
shall have her choice of the feather beds, and one 
other bed, and her choice of the pots. Itt. I give 
to my grandson, Daniel Ketchum, twenty acres 
of land, to be taken in the common of the Old 
Purchase of Oyster Bay, to him and to his heirs 
forever. 

"Itt. I give to my son Benjamin, all my land 
and commonage, and meadow, and Plain lands, 
which I have on Oyster Bay, and bounds that I 
have not disposed of, and the lands and house- 
room I have given to my wife, to be his after 
the expiration of her life or widowhood, to him 
my said son Benjamin, during his life, and after 
his decease, to the heirs of his body forever — al- 
ways provided, that my wife must have liberty 
during her widowhood, to mow grass on my 
meadow, or plain lands, during her widowhood. 
Itt. I do give to all my seven living daughters 
all my movable estate, which I have not given 
already to my wife, to be equally divided between 
them ; only my wife, if she see cause, to have 
the white mare, but to go as part of her thirds. 
Itt. I make my trusty and well-beloved friends, 
John Townsend, at Mill. Thomas Willets, and 
John Newman, overseers to this my will, to be 
helpful to my executrix, and to divide my estate 
between my wife and children, as I have now 
given it, according to the best of their under- 
standing, that is to say, when all debts, and 
funeral and other charges, are discharged. Itt. I 
make my loving wife my sole executrix of this 
my will, and all my estate, and to pay all my 
debts, and funeral and other charges, out of tny 
movable estate, and this I declare to be my last 
will and testament, to stand, revoking all other 
wills formerly made. Witness my hand and seal, 
this 2Sth day of April, Anno Dei 1696. 

"Richard Harcitjit. 



66 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



"May 2d, 1696. — It having pleased God to keep 
and preserve me in my perfect memory and 
understanding, I do now, in addition to my with- 
in written will, and to stand for my will, is that 
my son Benjamin shall have my cart and plough, 
with the instruments that belong to it, and my 
oxen and chain, and one axe for the use of him 
and my wife, as long as she is a widow. Also I 
do give to Hannah Townsend, the daughter of 
my daughter Susannah, deceased, one coverlet, 
meaning that which my wife hath lent her, and to 
my said daughter Susannah's son James, and to 
her other son and two daughters, I give between 
them, five shillings. This I declare to be an addi- 
tion to my within written will and testament. In 
witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand 
and seal, to the confirmation of my within written 
will, and this to be one entire will, the day and 
year first above written. 

"Richard Harcurt." 

The fear of his wife marrying again, that evi- 
dently haunts him, taken in connection with the 
fact that she was a widow with several children 
when he married her, twenty years before, shows 
what perilous times those were for widows. Ben- 
jamin Harcurt and his son sold the place, with 
every thing within doors and without, to Micajah 
Townsend. who sold it to Joseph Simson, from 
whom there is no conveyance for it. The next 
place, on the corner, was the homestead of Dr. 
Robert Cooper, son of Simon. After his death, 
it belonged to his wife Marcy, with a piece on 
the north side of the road, called Marcy Cooper's 
garden, as well as the place now belonging to the 
heirs of Dr. De Kay. The homestead she left 
to her grandsons, Samuel and Daniel, sons of 
Samuel Townsend. Daniel died young, and Sam- 
uel, in the latter part of his life, exchanged it 
with his nephew Joseph, for a place at Yellow 
Coats. Joseph's descendants still occupy the 
homestead. The De Kay place she sold to Jonas 
Green, in 1729. when there was no house upon 
it; he probably built the house, and, in 1745, sold 
it to Jacob Weeks, whose great-grandchildren 
sold it to Dr. De Kay. The land on the north 
side of the road, now belonging to James Town- 
send's heirs, belonged to Richard Harcurt (ex- 
cept the southeast corner, Marcy Cooper's gar- 



den), and was sold with the Harcurt place, on 
the other side of the road, except a half acre on 
the southwest, on which there was a house, which 
Richard Harcurt gave to his son-in-law, Thomas 
Youngs, who gave it to Thomas Wood, in pay- 
ment for building him a house ; he sold it to 
William Bradford: after that the owners are 
innumerable, until finally Esther Townsend sold 
it back to the Harcurts, the half-acre grown to 
an acre, and it disappears. 

West of the road to the water was the home- 
stead of Simon Cooper, chirurgeon ; he owned as 
far west as the Ship Point place ; his house was 
the one which Daniel Parish lived in. There 
are no conveyances for this part of the place 
recorded. The western part, now belonging to 
the Albertson place, was sold to Edward White 
by Simon Cooper; at his death, it fell to his son 
Robert, who must have built the house on the 
hill. It next appears in the possession of his 
sister, Mary White, who gave it to Robert, Ed- 
ward, and Harvey, sons of her sister, Abigail 
Colwell. After the death of Edward Colwell, 
who lived there, Augustine Weeks gave the south- 
west corner, ten rods from east to west, eight 
from north to south, to his son Refine, who built 
the house now there, and sold it, with the property 
on the other side of the road, to Walter Frank- 
lin, and he to Albert Albertson, whose great- 
granddaughter now owns it. 

Within the memory of middle-aged people, 
there were several houses still standing, which 
were built by the first settlers. Those in which 
Daniel and John Parish lived, built by Simon 
Cooper and Samuel Andrews, at a very early pe- 
riod ; the one on the hill, opposite the Episcopal 
Church, built by John Robinson, before 1680; 
that lately belonging to Hamilton, built about 
1677, by Job Wright ; the one formerly owned 
by the Chadeaynes, built probably by Benjamin 
Hubbard, before 1669; that on the place owned 
by Rev. Mr. Jackson, built by the widow Eliza- 
beth Townsend, 1670; the Summers house, built 
by Thomas Townsend, 167,1 ; the one south of 
that, formerly belonging to the Weeks family, and 
a part of that belonging to B. T. Underbill, which 
was built by John Wright, were all of this class: 
those built by Job Wright and Thomas Townsend 
and John Wright, are all that remain. 



67 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



TOWNSEND GENEALOGY 



CHAPTER I. 

JOHN, HENRY, AND RICHARD TOWNSEND. 

These brothers came from Norwich, County 
of Norfolk, England. The time of their emigra- 
tion cannot be precisely fixed. It was, however, 
several years before 1645, as in that year Governor 
Kieft gave a patent for the Town of Flushing 
to John Townsend and others; and from a peti- 
tion of his widow to Governor Andros, we learn 
that he had previously taken up land near New 
York, and "peaceably enjoyed the same divers 
years," but alarms from the Indians, and other 
difficulties which she does not specify, induced 
him to leave his improvements, and commence the 
settlement of Flushing, where he was joined by 
Henry. The Townsends were Friends, and were 
soon at variance with the Dutch authorities; the 
differences between them, however, seem to have 
had their origin quite as much in politics as re- 
ligion ; for John Townsend is named by Governor 
Stuyvesant among the principal persons of Flush- 
ing "who resist the Dutch mode of choosing 
Sheriff, pretending against the adopted course in 
the Fatherland, and who refuse to contribute their 
share to the maintenance of Christian, pious, re- 
formed ministers." He, with the others named, 
was summoned to appear, 23d of January, 1648, 
before the Director-General. Governor, and Coun- 
cil, at Fort Amsterdam. If they decline, they are 
to be apprehended and prosecuted by the Attor- 
ney-General. Thompson, in his History of Long 
Island, says that on account of these difficulties 
with the Government, the Townsends left Flush- 
ing and went to Warwick, R, I., where they 
were, all three, members of the Provincial As- 
sembly, beside holding municipal offices. In 1656, 
they determined once more to attempt a settle- 
ment on Long Island, and in that year obtained, 
with others, the patent of Jamaica, then called 
Riisdorp. Very soon, however, the old religious 
difficulties _beset them. Henry seems to have 
made himself particularly obnoxious, although, as 
already shown, John neither concealed nor com- 
promised his opinions. In 1657, Henry was sen- 
tenced to pay £8 Flanders, or to leave the 
Province in six weeks, for having "called together 
conventicles." The people of Flushing held a 
meeting and addressed a remonstrance to the 
Governor, written by the Town-Clerk, and signed, 
among others, by Tobias Feake, Sheriff, and 
Noble and FarrinPton, two of the magistrates, 
and presented by the Sheriff. He, the Clerk, and 
magistrates were arrested, and John Townsend 
also, upon a charge of having induced the magis- 



trates to sign, and he was ordered to find bail in 
£12, to appear when summoned. Henry was 
brought before the Council, January isth, 1658, 
and condemned to pay iioo Flanders, and to 
remain arrested until it be paid. We are not 
told how this was settled ; but he was in Oyster 
Bay during this year, as his signature as witness 
to an Indian deed proves. In January, 1661, 
two of the magistrates furnished the names of 
twelve persons, including John and Henry Town- 
send and their wives, "who countenanced the 
Quakers." Henry was again imprisoned, but there 
is no indication that John was molested. This 
account of the Townsends. before they came to 
Oyster Bay, is taken entirely from Thompson's 
History of Long Island. He probably received 
it from Dr. Peter Townsend, whose Note-Book 
shows conclusively the reason why Henry was 
so much more involved in these difficulties than 
John, who was also a Friend, attended "con- 
venticles," and "countenanced Quakers," but 
Henry went from door to door, urging people 
to attend their meetings, which gave great um- 
brage, especially as regarded young people and 
children. 

From the date of the Mill grant, September 
16, 1661, the history of the brothers and their de- 
scendants has been taken from the Town Rec- 
ords, and from family papers, and for that we are 
responsible. Where we have only inferences and 
conjectures to give, we offer them as such. 

CHAPTER II. 

JOHN TOWNSEND 

Settled in Oyster Bay, between the middle of 
January and the i6th of September, 1661. As 
he was living in Jamaica at the first date, and his 
name being upon the Mill grant, he must have 
been admitted as a Townsman in Oyster Bay 
before the last. There is an entry upon the 
Records, that he bought his house in South street 
in February, 1661, but the deed, in the possession 
of J. C. Townsend, is dated October. It is as 
follows : 

"Oyster Bay, this Sth day of the loth month, 
1661. Be it known unto all by these presents, 
that I, Jonas Halstead. of Oyster Bay, on Long 
Island, in America, do hereby acknowledge that 
I have sold and delivered all my right, title, and 
interest of all the housing and land that is here 
named, as follows:— Richard Holbrook's house 
or houses, built by him or me, and house lot, 
and two shares of meadow on the north side of 
the Town, and a share of meadow at Matinecock, 



68 




■■MTTl.E KAVXIIAM." 
Thu Did Seat of SoK.iiian rnwiisuiul, Oystvr Bay. Lung Islar. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



and one right of meadow at the south, and twenty 
shares of the Great Plains, that is on the east 
side of the footpath, near the wood edge, and 
also all the rights, appurtenances, and privileges 
that do fall to, or any way belong to the afore- 
said house lot, within the Town bounds. I say, 
I have sold and delivered it all in quiet posses- 
sion, for full satisfaction already received, unto 
John Townsend, of the said Town and place, 
and do also hereby engage to make good the 
sale of the aforesaid house and lands, against any 
person or persons that may any wise lay claim 
thereto; and I do hereby further acknowledge 
that I have fully sold all the said houses and 
lands from me, my heirs and assigns, unto him, 
his heirs and assigns forever, to enjoy without 
molestation by me, or any from me, as witness 
my hand, this day and year first above written. 
"Jonas Halstead." 

John Townsend must have been quite advanced 
in years when he settled in Oyster Bay; having 
led a most active and laborious life since his 
emigration, he had made three different homes 
in the wilderness, if not four, before he found 
a final resting-place. His widow, in the petition 
to Governor Andros, above mentioned, says : 

"Your Honor's petitioner's husband, many years 
last past, was seized of a certain parcel of land, 
containing eight acres by estimation, lying and 
being at the Fresh Water (Collect), New York, 
then called New Amsterdam, where your Honor's 
petitioner's husband did build, and make large 
improvements, and peaceably enjoyed the same 
divers years in the time of great calamity, being 
daily alarmed by the Indians, and other diffi- 
culties attending upon your Honor's petitioner's 
husband, and afterwards got no better reward 
than such discouragements as caused your Hon- 
or's petitioner's husband to leave his good im- 
provements. However, your Honor's petitioner 
is well contented at present, hoping her husband 
and others, by their adventures, and running 
through many fiery trials of affliction, has been 
in some measure instrumental to bring a chaos 
into goodly fields, buildings, and gardens; and 
instead of your Honor's petitioner's husband reap- 
ing the fruits of their labors, but on the con- 
trary, was forced to hew a small fortune out of 
the thick wood, with his own hands, for himself, 
wife, and children." 

Her object in this petition was to reclaim the 
eight acres taken up by her husband ; but as it 
had been thirty years since he left it, never hav- 
ing had any title but possession, it is not sur- 
prising that her petition was not granted. Per- 
haps she might have fared better if it had been 
written in the clear, condensed style of her son 
Thomas, instead of the clumsy, involved, tedious, 
and inelegant document elaborated by George 
Cooke. As we have seen, after leaving his home, 
he, with others, settled Flushing in 1645, .and 
Jamaica in 1656. At his age, and after such toils 
and privations as he had undergone, it is not 
surprising that he should have retired from all 
public concerns, and have left the burden of 



organizing and managing the new settlement to 
younger men, especially as he had two sons of an 
age to take his place. The office of Overseer is 
the only one he is known to have held here. In 
1663, he bought from Thomas Armitage the 
homestead next south of his own, and his name 
frequently appears on the Records as a purchaser 
of property. His wife was Elizabeth Montgom- 
ery. He died in 1668, and was buried on his own 
place, probably the first person laid in the grave- 
yard on Fort Hill. 

As he died intestate, his widow, according to 
a custom prevailing here, divided his estate, 
with the advice and consent of her older sons, 
and her husband's brothers. We give this docu- 
ment below. The solicitude which she shows for 
the comfort and welfare of "the lad^." as she calls 
her two younger sons, is very touching. 

"These presents declare unto whom it may any 
wise concern, that I, Elizabeth Townsend, widow 
of the late deceased John Townsend, in Oyster 
Bay, in the north riding, on Long Island, because 
my said husband deceased without a will, 1 here- 
in, with the advice of my husband's two brothers, 
Heiiry and Richard Townsend, and with the 
advice and consent of my two eldest sons, John 
and Thomas Townsend, all of Oyster Bay, above 
said, have together parted my said husband's 
estate amongst his six younger children, for their 
portions, instead of a will, by which will, each 
of the children, namely, James, Rose, Anne, 
Sarah, George, and Daniel may know what shall 
be, and what to claim for their portion of their 
father's estate, and this to stand firm and un- 
alterable by me, or any through, or by me, but 
to remain for a settlement of peace between me 
and my children, which is as foUoweth. Imp. 
1st. Unto my son James, I give for his portion 
out of the estate, in present possession, in lands, 
beside cattle and horses he have in hand already, 
first, three acres of land and three-quarters, lying 
on the south side of that was old Armitage's lot, 
in Oyster Bay, lying or adjoining to the high- 
way on the eastward and western sides, with 
commoning and common privileges to it, of wood, 
land, timber, as other such lots have ; and he 
is to have the land upon part of his common 
right, that his father did improve, on the east 
side of Matinecock Creek, joining on the south 
of his uncle Henry's land, and two shares of 
meadow lying on the west side of the Creek, or 
Beaver Swamp, and one share of meadow on the 
east of the said Creek; and he is to have the 
land his father fenced and improved on the 
west side of the Mill River Swamp, with the 
share of the swamp joining to the east side of it; 
and he is to have six acres of Plains, and a 
quarter of a share of meadow at the south, and 
so much of the south side of the swamp at the 
rear of my house as proves to be mine, of which 
swamp Josias Latting hath a part. To my 
daughters I do engage to give to each of them 
thirty pounds apiece, for their portion, and to 
my eldest daughter Elizabeth, although not above 
mentioned, yet she is to have, with what she 



69 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



hath already received, thirty pounds, all at such 
pay as passes between man and man, after the 
rate of Indian corn at three shillings a bushel, 
and wheat at five. 2d. To the said Elizabeth, or 
her husband, Gideon Wright, towards her por- 
tion, 1 give, with what her father had before 
given her already, first, two cows, ten pounds; 
a young horse, five pounds; a bed and furniture, 
ten pounds; two sheep, one pound; one kettle, 
one pound ; in all twenty-seven pounds ; and 
Gideon, her husband, is to have three pounds 
more; and that will be thirty pounds in all. 3d. 
To my daughter Rose I give half a share of 
meadow at the south, with two cows and two 
calves she hath already received, and commoning 
in Oyster Bay, with twenty-six acres of land, 
and three pounds in Richard Townsend's hands, 
and a yearling mare colt, it all being called by us 
at thirty pounds. 4th. To my two youngest 
daughters, Anne and Sarah, their portions are to 
be thirty pounds apiece, out of tlie stock or in 
lands, as they may desire, if their mother de- 
cease before their portions are paid; but if they 
be disposed of in marriage while I remain a 
widow, 1 have liberty to pay to each of them 
their portion in cattle or land, as I see they have 
most need and I able to do it, or part one, part 
of the other. 5th. It is my will, and I do fully 
agree that my two youngest sons, George and 
Daniel, shall have these two homesteads I now 
possess, with the privileges belonging to tliem, 
after my decease, but they are to be mine and 
for my use, to possess and enjoy for my use and 
comfort, during my life, and at my decease to 
be theirs as above said, with privileges as fol- 
lows : to each party is nominated his particular 
interest. 6thly. To my son George I give for 
his portion as above said, being the eldest, the 
house and house lot that I now possess, and 
orchard which then shall be on it, and two shares 
of meadow that lie in the Town of Oyster Bay, 
which was bought with the lot, and six acres of 
Plains, with commoning and common privileges, 
in the First Purchase of the Town. 7th. To my 
youngest son, Daniel, above mentioned, after my 
decease above said, is to have the other lot, or 
that part of land lying between his brother 
James's lot and his brother George's lot. It was 
bought of old Armitage. I say, he is to have 
it, with the privileges belonging to it ; namely, 
two shares of meadow lying on the north side of 
the town, which was bought with the lot of the 
said Thomas Armitage, and six acres of Plains, 
and twelve acres of land and common privileges. 
And I do by this will and appoint, that if I de- 
cease before these my two youngest sons be of 
age, that two of their eldest brothers take them 
and bring them up, and to have the use of the 
boys' land and what other goods and chattels 
fall to them. The goods and chattels are to 
be priced when they receive it, and delivered back 
to the said boys the same price of value again, 
when they go from their brothers, whether they 
be of age or not ; for I do appoint my brother, 
Henry Townsend, their uncle, to have the over- 
sight of them if he outlive me, and to remove 



one or both to the rest of their brothers or 
sisters, with the lands and estates to make use of 
toward the bringing up of the said lads ; but 
when they go away to have their whole principal 
returned to or with them, but not to remove them 
without their complaint to him on good grounds, 
for the said removal, of hard usage. .■\nd I do 
by this will and appoint that, at my decease, un- 
alterable by me, or any through or by me, all my 
estate undisposed of. as goods, household stuff, 
and cattle, are all to be equally divided amongst 
all my living children; and I further order and 
appoint that, if any one or more of my said 
sons or daughters die under age, undisposed of 
in marriage, the deceased's lands and estates are 
all to be divided equally amongst all my living 
sons and daughters ; but it is still to be under- 
stood that whoever have the bringing up of the 
two young lads, and the use of their estate to- 
wards their maintenance, their lands and houses 
is with fences to he delivered up in good repair 
as when they received it, and the property of 
lands and houses, and orchard, is not to be al- 
tered to or from either of the said lads, although 
the property of other goods or chattels may be 
altered upon just and honest terms. And further, 
it is agreed that my eldest son, John, is to have 
such land at Hog Island, at my decease, or at 
south, if I leave any undisposed of, to my young- 
est daughters, Anne and Sarah, above said. But 
a lot on Hog Island, of the third division, num- 
ber ten, my husband gave my son Thomas. Unto 
all the promises and engagements above men- 
tioned, I do hereby engage to perform, under 
my hand and seal, the twenty-third year of the 
reign of Charles the Second, King of England, 
and the tenth day of the fifth month, 1671. Be- 
fore signing was entered in the fifth and eighth 
lines I now as witness 

my hand and seal, 

"EuzABETH Townsend. 
"In the presence of us, 
"Moses Furman, 
''Benjamin Hubbard._ 
"I do own my brother Richard did consent to 
the substance of which is above mentioned, and 
with my advice also, as witness my hand. 

"Henry Townsend, 
"And we consent to the above said. 

"John Townsend, James Townsend. 

"Thomas Townsend, Gideon Wright." 

Richard Townsend must have died after this 
settlement was agreed upon, but before its ex- 
ecution. 

The thirty pounds allotted to each of the 
daughters seems, to our ideas, a very small for- 
tune, while the Fort Neck estate, given by 
Thomas Townsend to his daughter Freelove, we 
regard as a munificent portion ; but we must re- 
member that thirty pounds would have bought 
two such estates. John's daughters, however, 
received nearer one hundred pounds than thirty, 
for Rose sold her land for thirty pounds, the 
cattle and money allotted to her were worth at 
least twenty, and her dividend, at her mother's 



70 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



death, must have been very considerable; for the 
widow Townsend appears very often on the Rec- 
ords, buying land and receiving allotments, and 
was evidently a woman of great energy and abil- 
ity. So that, no doubt, her daughters were among 
the greatest fortunes of their day, as it was not 
expected that any girls should share equally with 
their brothers. 

Rose married John Wicks, or Weeks, of War- 
wick, Rhode Island, the brother of Richard 
Townsend's second wife. After his death she 
married Samuel Hayden. Nothing is known of 
her family. Of Anne and Sarah, nothing what- 
ever is known. 



CHAPTER III. 

JOHN, SON OF JOHN 1ST. 

During his father's life, John 2d lived in South 
street, on the east side, north of the Summers 
house. In 1698 the name of his wife was Phebe, 
but there is reason to believe that his first wife, 
the mother of his children, was Susannah, daugh- 
ter of Richard Harcurt, or, properly, Harcourt. 
Shortly after his father's death, in 1668, he sold 
his house to his brother Thomas, and bought 
land of Robert Williams, at Lusum (now Jer- 
icho), of which he must have been one of the 
first six settlers. After living at Lusum some 
time, he removed to West Neck, where, as well 
as at Unkoway Neck, he made many purchases 
of land. It is probable that he returned to Lusum 
before his death, the date of which is not known ; 
but he was still living in 1715, when he was not 
less than eighty years old. He is called, on the 
Records. John Townsend, Senior. — Issue, Solo- 
mon, James, Thomas. Nathaniel, and probably 
three daughters. Of the daughters nothing is 
known, unless it be that the name of one of 
them was Hannah, Nathaniel died young. Of 
Thomas we only know that he was born at Lu- 
sum. in 16S0. and that his uncle Thomas gave him 
land in 1685. He no doubt died young. 

Solomon, son of John 2d. of Jericho, removed 
to Rhode Island with his family in 1707. He 
received from his father the homestead, at Jericho, 
which his son Job. the only one of his children 
known, sold to Nathaniel Townsend. This home- 
stead we believe to be the place afterwards owned 
by Elias Hicks, but the house was on the east 
side of the road. Dr. Peter Townsend mentions 
Solomon and Christopher Townsend, of Rhode 
Island, who were in Oyster Bay during his 
grandfather's life, and claimed relationship with 
him. The Record of the meeting also mentions 
Christopher visiting friends. They were prob- 
ably grandsons of this Solomon. 

James, son of John 2d. of Jericho, is the an- 
cestor of those known in the family as Jericho 
Townsends. He married Audrey, daughter of 
Colonel Job Almy, of Rhode Island. 'The date 
of his marriage is not known, but his oldest son 
was born in 1692. Of his wife, nothing but her 
very pretty name is known ; but Susannah Almy, 



her sister, was the author of some verses (pre- 
served by Dr. P. Townsend), from which we 
shall give an extract, as their date gives them 
an interest besides that which they possess for 
her sister's descendants. 

"A CONTENTED MIND. 



"If thy estate be took from thee. 
And thou art brought to poverty, 
By crosses or afflictions strong — 
Murmur nor grieve at any wrong. 
Its God that hath a hand o'er all. 
To raise thee up. or let thee fall. 
Perhap.s the Lord will try to find 
It thou hast a contented mind. 

"If thou art rich, then be content ; 
Forget not thou from whom 'twas sent : 
If God hath given thee treasure's store. 
Think thou art steward for the poor. 
One day be sure thou must appear. 
To give account what thou didst here, 
And then these lines you true shall find- 
No wealth like a contented mind. 

"If honor or preferment great 
Shall raise thee up on Justice's seat ; 
Or if by place or dignity, 
A judge of causes thou mayest be — 
Think Heaven's court of justice high 
"Will on thine actions cast an eye. 
This mighty Judge, be sure, can find 
The secrets of your heart and mind. 

"If thou God's laws do break, be sure. 
Or by oppression wrong the poor. 
Or let the mighty bear the sway, 
To turn the poor man's cause away — 
He that doth this, be sure, shall find 
Afflictions, with a troubled mind. 

"If. otherwise, thou chance to be 
A judge of right and equity. 
And wilt the poor man's cause defend 
As well as his who means doth spend. 
And right the poor and fatherless. 
Likewise the widow in distress — 
Reward from heaven be sure shall find ; 
On earth, a sweet, contented mind." 



James was the Deputy Surveyor-General of the 
Province, and after the death of Justice John 
Townsend and the 3d Henry, he and his cousin 
George, of Oyster Bay, were elected Town Sur- 
veyors. His was the first appointment to the 
office of a person not a resident of the village 
of Oyster Bay, and was made in 1710 or '11. 
He continued to be re-elected until his death. 
He was appointed, with George Townsend, to 
conduct the defence of the Town in a suit 
brough by Nicholas Lang and others, to recover 
a large part of the original Purchase, under the 
title of William Leverich. Dr. Peter Townsend 
says that the family tradition represents him as 
a man of strong mind and amiable temper. He 
was certainly a proinincnt and influcnti.ll man 
in the town, and must, from the number of 
surveys he made, have been very active. He 
died between 1729 and 173.1. We think he lived 
upon the place now belonging to Samuel Llnder- 
hill, at Jericho, and was buried there. — Issue, 
Mary, Deborah. Jacob, Nathaniel. 
MAR'Y married Jackson. — Issue, 



Thomas, Charles, Almy. 



71 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Almy married Richard, son of Job Hubbs. 
Nothing more is known of her family. — From Dr. 
Townsend's Notes. 

DEBORAH married Abraham Seaman. — Issue, 
James, Phebe. 

Phebe married Casey, and lived in New 

York. There was another daughter, name not 
known, married to Captain Robinson. — From Dr. 
Toicnscnd's Notes. 

JACOB was born 1692, and married Phebe, 
daughter of Captain John Seaman, of Jerusalem. 
Dr. P. Townsend says his aunts described him as 
a tall man, grave to despondency. He lived at 
the place now owned by William Jackson, at 
Jericho. The old house stood very near the turn- 
pike. He died December 30, 1742, and was buried 
in the family burying-ground, on the place of 
Samuel Underbill, where his tombstone still 
stands. His wife died of the small-pox, after a 
long and painful illness, April 14, 1774, aged sev- 
enty-five. — Issue, Samuel, Jacob, Benjamin, James, 
Almy. The last died young, unmarried. 

Samuel was born in 1717, and married Sarah, 
daughter of Wm. Stoddard, then of Oyster Bay, 
but formerly of Rhode Island. In 1740, he bought 
the house now occupied by his grandson, Solo- 
mon Townsend, in Oyster Bay, known as "Rayn- 
ham." It was subsequently occupied by his son 
Solomon, who married Anne, daughter of Peter 
Townsend, later by Solomon, son of Solomon, 
who married Helene, daughter of Dr. Charles 
Townsend, of Albany, and at the present day is 
in possession of their children. During the Revo- 
lution, the officers commanding the Queens Ran- 
gers were quartered here, who scratched their 
names on the panes of the window glasses, to- 
gether with those of Audrey, Sarah and Phebe, the 
daughters of Samuel Townsend, then young 
ladies. Major Andre spent the last week before 
he started for West Point at the old house. The 
clock that stood in the Townsend house at 
Sterling, Orange Co., and which was a marriage 
present from old Peter to his daughter Anne, 
was brought to "Raynham" on her wedding day, 
and three of the links of "The Great Chain" built 
by her father and stretched across the Hudson 
River to keep the British from passing up, are 
still to^ be seen lying at the old garden gateway. 
His widow, in 1813, sold six hundred acres of 
the estate to the Lorillards, which is now known 
as Tuxedo. He was actively engaged in the Eng- 
lish and West India trade, which he successfully 
prosecuted until the Revolution, when, beside the 
unavoidable obstructions to business occasioned 
by the war, he being a Whig, was subjected to 
many annoyances and interruptions from the 
British after they obtained possession of the 
place. Before that time he was a member of the 
Provincial Congress, and at the close of the war 
resumed his seat, and continued in public life 
until his death. He was a State Senator, and a 
member of the first Council of Appointment un- 
der the Constitution, in 1789. Before the Revolu- 
t>0". he had been for thirty years a Justice of 
the Peace. He died November 24th, 1790. and 
was buried m the graveyard south side of Fort 



Hill. His wife died April loth, 1800. We find 
the following description of him in Dr. P. Town- 
send's Note-Book. "A fine old gentleman, of 
regular features, straight nose, a large blue eye, 
high forehead. A snuff-colored or gray suit, with 
silver knee and shoe buckles, a white stock of 
carnbric lawn gathered in five plaits, fastened 
behind with a paste buckle, showing no collar, 
narrow ruffles at the shirt-bosom, gold-headed 
cane and cocked hat. A certain Solomon Sea- 
man, uncle to Samuel, used to say he hated to 
see Sam and Sarah Townsend come into meeting, 
they looked so tall and proud. He was a mem- 
ber of meeting by birthright, his parents being 
strict Friends, and his wife, though baptized in 
the Episcopal Church, preferred the Friends. The 
preachers, when in Oyster Bay, made his house 
their home." — Issue, Solomon, Samuel, Robert, 
William, David, Audrey, Sarah, Phebe. 

Solomon was born in 1746. In his twentieth 
year his father put him in command of a brig. 
When the Revolution broke out he was in com- 
mand of the ship Glasgow, belonging to Walter 
Buchanan. In consequence of the interruption to 
trade she was left in London. Captain Town- 
send went to Paris, where he made the acquaint- 
ance of Dr. Franklin, who gave him the follow- 
ing certificate when he sailed for America : 

"P.'\ssY, NEAR Pakis, June 28th, 1778. 
"I certify, to all whom it may concern, that 
Captain Solomon Townsend, mariner, hath this 
day appeared voluntarily before me and taken the 
oath of allegiance to the United States of America, 
according to the Resolution of Congress, thereby 
acknowledging himself a subject of the United 
States. B. Franklin." 

The original is in the possession of his son, 
Solomon Townsend. He landed in Boston, and 
being unable to come to his father's, crossed the 
country to Chester, Orange County, to the resi- 
dence of Peter Townsend, son of the 4th Henry. 
After an absence of seven years. Captain Town- 
send, by appointment, met some of his family on 
Shelter Island. Returning to Chester, he married 
Anne, daughter of Peter Townsend, bought 
property adjoining his father-in-law, and estab- 
lished extensive iron-works, but he resided in 
New York, where he did a large business in iron. 
He also established a manufactory of bar-iron on 
Peconic River, Suffolk County. He, in common 
with others, suffered severely from the commer- 
cial derangements in the early part of the cen- 
tury, but he continued his manufacturing opera- 
tions until his death. He frequently represented 
New York in the State Legislature, and was a 
member at the time of his death, which occurred 
March 27, 181 1. His wife died April 26, 1823.— 
Issue, Hannah, Anne, Mary, Phebe, Samuel, Ja- 
cob, Peter, Solomon. 

Hannah married Isaiah Townsend, and died 
November i, 1854. (See Isaiah Townsend, Chap. 
X.) 

Anne married Effingham Lawrence, and died 
October 11, 1845. (See Effingham Lawrence, 
Chap. X.) 



72 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E X D 



Mary married Edward Holland Nicoll, of New 
York, and died April 5, 1849.— Issue, Henry, Sol- 
omon. Henry married Anne, daughter of Phebe 
Townsend and James Thorne. Solomon married 
Charlotte, daughter of Samuel Benjamin Nicoll, 
of Shelter Island.— Issue, De Lanccy, Benjamin, 
Annie, Charlotte, Edward H., and Mary T. 

De Lancey, born in 1854, grad. from Princeton 
College, 1874, later graduated from Columbia Law 
School, entering the law office of late Clarkson 
W Potter, brother of late Bishop Potter, and that 
of Jiilien T. Davies. Mr. Nicoll rose rapidly in 
his profession and is recognized as one of New 
York's distinguished lawyers. In 1890, he was 
elected to the office of Dist. Atty. of N. Y. C. 
He has also taken great interest in the local 
politics, as well as taking the stump (Demo- 
cratic) in several presidential campaigns. In 
1890, Mr. Nicoll married Maud Churchill.— Issue, 
De Lancey and Josephine. Benjamin, a merchant 
of N. Y. C, married Grace Lord.— Issue, Elise 
and Courtlandt. Annie married Wm. M. Hoes, 
a well-known lawyer of N. Y. C. Charlotte mar- 
ried, first, McKim Minton, second, Willoughby 
Weston Edward Holland married Edith M. 
Xravers— Issue, Charlotte Van C, Nancy and 
Edward H., Jr. Mary T. married, first, James 
Brown Lord, second, Cornelius C. Cuyler of N. 
Y. C— Issue, by first, James Couper Lord. 

Phebe married James Thorne, of Albany.- Is- 
sue, Sarah, Anna, Robert, Mary, Edward, John, 
James, Martba. „ t, o . 

Solomon was born at Oyster Bay, 1805, and 
died at the old house "Raynham," Oyster Bny, 
April 2d, 1880. When eighteen years of age he 
went to China as supercargo for the old Tea 
House of Edward H. Nicoll & Co. He subse- 
quently became a member of the firm, and with 
his nephew Solomon T. Nicoll, continued for 
many years the firm of S. T. Nicoll & Co. This 
concern had their ships at sea and did the large,-;! 
tea business with China at that time of any con- 
cern in this country. Mr. Townsend was a mem- 
ber of the Legislature for five years. He mar- 
ried Helene de Kay Townsend. daughter of 
Charles de Kay Townsend, of Albany, N. Y.— 
Issue, Solomon S., Charles de Kay, Robert, 
Maurice E., Edward N. and Maria Fonda. Sol- 
omon S. was a member of the State Legislature 
from Queen's County for five terms. Charles de 
Kay, a lawyer, was Surrogate of Queen's Co. 
for six years. He married Wilhelmina B. Har- 
sell. Robert, a lawyer in N. Y. C, was Aide-dc- 
Camp on the staff of Governor Grover Cleveland, 
and for fifteen vears was Asst. Dist. Atty. of 
N Y C He married Edvthe Earle. Maurice E., 
a merchant, unmarried. Edward Nicoll, super- 
visor of the Town of Hempste?d and Editor of 
the "The Republican." a newspaper published on 
Lone Island, married Kleta Dow. of Poughkeep- 
,;ie N Y.— Issue, Anne, Edward N. Audrey, 
Farley and Henry M. Maria Fonda, unmarried, 
resided at "Ravnham," Oyster Bay, together with 
her brothers Solomon and Maurice Edward. She 
was a woman of high order of character, and 
took pleasure in conducting the home from which 



for so many generations hospitality and loving 
cheer had been bountifully extended. Always 
public spirited in any matter concerning the im- 
provement of Oyster Bay. She died at "Rayn- 
ham," March "th, 1909, sincerely mourned by the 
community. 

Anna married Henry, son of Mary Townsend 
and Edward H. Nicoll. Robert married Sallie 
Richardson. Mary married Dr. Artliur Jackson, 
Middletown, Conn.— Issue, Arthur, Edward, and 
Lottie. Edward died unmarried. May 23, 1863. 

Samuel died unmarried, February 6, 1834. 

Jacob died unmarried, July 25, 1830. 

Peter was educated as a physician, and pub- 
lished several medical works. Beside his profes- 
sional labors, he was the most indefatigable col- 
lector of family history, tradition, and anecdote. 
His manuscripts are monuments of the zeal and 
industry with which he pursued his work of love. 
It will be observed that we make frequent use 
of these manuscripts. He died March 26, 1849. 

Martha married Elbert Floyd-Jones. 

Samuel, son of Samuel, married Esther, daugh- 
ter of Penn Townsend. He died in Wilmington, 
N. C. — Issue, Penn, who died in infancy. 

Robert, son of Samuel, died unmarried, March 
7, 1S38. 

William, son of Samuel, died unmarried. He 
was drowned. 

David, son of Samuel, died unmarried, May 17, 

178s. 

Audrey, daughter of Samuel, married Captain 
James Farley, and died without children, No- 
vember 28, 1829. 

Sarah, daughter of Samuel, died unmarried, 
December 19, 1S42. This lady and her sisters are 
remembered with respect and affection by those 
who were in their day the young people of the 
family, who always found them, notwitlistanding 
their advanced age and Mrs. Farley's blindness, 
most cheerful, agreeable companions. 

Phebe, daughter of Samuel, married Dr. Eben- 
ezer Seely, and died without children, October 
12, 1841. 

All these children of Samuel, except Samuel 
and William, are buried on Fort Hill. 

J.^coB. son of Jacob, of Jericho, was born in 
1730. He settled in Oyster Bay, in the house 
next to his brother Samuel, and married Mercy 
Butler. He afterwards removed to New York, 
where he was extensively and successfully en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits. He died December 
31, 1773, and was buried in the family burying- 
ground at Jericho. — Issue, Jacob, Almy, Hannah, 
Martha. Jacob died unmarried in the West 
Indies. 

Ahny married Thomas Buchanan.— Issue, Jean, 
Almv, Margaret, Martha, Eliza, George, Hannah, 
Fanny.— Jean died unmarried (1848) in her 
eighty-second year. 

Almy married Peter P. Goelet. Margaret mar- 
ried Robert R. Goelet. Martha married Thomas 
Hicks. Eliza married Samuel Gifford, and died 
(1855) in her eighty-second year. George died 
unmarried. Hannah died unmarried. Fanny 

73 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



married Thomas Pearsall, and died (1863) in her 
eighty-fifth year. 

Hannah married Major Joseph Green, and went 
to Ireland. 

Martha married I. Pasha, Tortola, W. I. 

Benjamin, son of Jacob, of Jericho, was born 
1723. He married Betty, daughter of George 
Frost, an heiress. She is described as a wee wee 
woman. They Hved for soine time on her prop- 
erty at Buckram, which included the mill now 
belonging to Silas Cocke. In 1769, they sold to 
Zebulon Frost, and removed to Jericho, where, 
upon the place which was his grandfather's, now 
owned by Samuel Underbill, he built a house, the 
first of two stories, front and rear, erected in this 
part of the country. Samuel Underbill told us 
he had heard of a wagon-full of people going up 
from Oyster Bay to look at the "high bouse." 
He died September 18, 1789. and was buried on 
his own place, in the family burying-ground. — 
Issue, Frost, Jaines, Elizabeth, Benjamin, George, 
Nancy, Phebe. 

Frost died unmarried, July 18, 1770, aged 
twenty-one. James died at sea, unmarried, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1790, aged thirty-nine years. 

Elizabeth married Henry Mitchel, of New York, 
and was a woman of very superior character. 
She left no children. 

Benjamin married Martha Powell. — Issue, Bet- 
sey, Mary, Jacob P., Nancy, Benjamin, Jr. 

George married Elizabeth Bowne. — Issue, Wal- 
ter, James. Walter married Harriet Jones, and 
died January 23, 1854. James married Charlotte 
Robinson. 

Nancy married Abraham Franklin. 

Phebe married Samuel Talman. — Issue, James 
T., George, Frances. Sarah, Anne, William. James 
Townsend married Mary Watson Lawrence. — Is- 
sue, Emily, who married William Henry Davis, 
March 3d, 1S25. — Issue, Townsend (see Dr. An- 
thony Davis of Henry 2d., Chap. X.), and Mary 
Talman. Mary Talman married George Howell 
Dunbar, June 18, 1S72. — Issue, Anna Lawrence, 
born Feb. 23, 1875, Ethel Effingham, born Aug. 
30, 1S76, and Davis Townsend, born July 14th, 
1882. Anna Lawrence married Seymour P. 
White, May loth, 1898. — Issue, ^larian, born June 
27th, 1899, and Einily, born Feb. 16, 1901. Ethel 
Effingham married John Plerkimer Graves, March 
30, 1901. — Issue, John Dunbar, born Jan. g, 1902, 
and Davis Dunbar, born Aug. 29, 1903. George 
died unmarried. Frances inarried George W. 
Russell. Sarah married Gabriel Wisner. Anne 
married Henry Coit. William died unmarried. 

James, son of Jacob, of Jericho, was born De- 
cember 17, 1729. He studied medicine with Dr. 
Bard, one of the most eminent physicians in 
New York. His uncle, Nathaniel Townsend, had 
married the widow of Samuel Hicks, and to her 
daughter Mary he became very much attached ; 
the letter in which he offered himself to her has 
been preserved, and we think his descendants will 
thank us for the perusal of it. 



TO MARY HICKS. 

"Most Amiable Maid: It is a long time since 
I first conceived an extraordinary esteem of your 
person and virtues, and, since I have been more 
particularly acquainted with you, am convinced 
that my opinion is founded on a firm and solid 
basis. Esteem it not flattery, when I tell you 
that, in my opinion, you excel most of your sex. 
When I reflect on the sweetness of your temper, 
the harmony of your language, the courteousness 
of your behavior, with the graceful deportment of 
your person, adorned with an unaffected and 
charming modesty, my heart is filled with love; 
and if a breast void of dissimulation, with a pas- 
sion founded on the strictest principles of virtue 
and honor, could plead me a return of your 
affection, I should not much doubt of obtaining 
it. Though perhaps you cannot grant me that, 
I am sensible the sweetness of your disposition 
will not allow you to be guilty of so much in- 
gratitude as to hate any one for loving you, so 
that I may hope that by continuing my en- 
deavors to convince you of the greatness and 
sincerity of my passion, I may at last cause you 
to cominiserate my condition and bless me with 
your love, the attaining of which is my chief aim 
in presenting you with these. Pray pardon my 
boldness in addressing you after this manner, 
and believe me to be your sincere admirer and 
humble servant, 

"James Townsend. 

"21st of March, I7SS-" 

The answer of the lady is not extant, but it 
was favorable, and in 1756, when he was at the 
Bay of Honduras — on what errand does not 
appear — he addressed the following chantiir»g 
love-letter to her: 

TO MARY HICKS. 

"I could not, my dear Molly, without being 
guilty of the highest degree of ingratitude, omit 
this opportunity of writing to one who had so 
great an esteem for me as to think me worthy of 
the first place m her affection, and who expressed 
so great and tender a concern for my welfare 
as you did when I last saw you. I had a short 
and pleasant voyage to this place, and am now in 
a good state of health, as my sincerest wish is 
these may find you. I am sorry to tell you that 
I do not e.xpect to see you before ne.xt summer, 
my affairs here being likely to detain me longer 
than I expected when I left Long Island. I beg, 
my dear Molly, that you will not impute my 
continuing here to a coldness or alienation in my 
affection, for I can truly assure you that my love 
is no ways impaired by absence, and that I have 
as great an opinion of and esteem for your 
person and virtues, and my affection is so firmly 
centred on you that it is impossible for time or 
absence to remove or diminish it. What gives 
me the greatest uneasiness is that I am obliged 
to be so long absent from you, and no probability 
of hearing from you while I am here. Excuse 



74 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



me my dear Molly, for reminding you of the 
MelitTthat we have mutually P^'"'^^,;^. ^"^'^ 
other Although I have no reason to doubt the 
sincerity of your love, I must acknowledge to 
you that when I consider of your ment and my 
absence, I cannot keep the thought of a rival out 
of my breast, and notwithstandmg I miagms yoiir 
°ove is as truly fixed as mine, yet the threats 
and entreaties of friends, and such as say they 
are and are not, I am sensible w,th some (though 
I hone I mav exclude you out of the number) 
would induce them to pursue measures contrary 
to their inclination. Allow me, dear Molly, to 
mention to you a couple of hues that I have met 
with somewhere in the course of my rcadmg, and 
to recommend them to you ; they are these : 
•■ 'Let no dire threat, or kind entreaties move 
To give thy person where thou canst not love. 

"May the Protector of virgin innocence be with 
vou With the greatest sincerity and warmth ot 
affection, I most tenderly salute you, and am, my 
dear Molly, immutably yours 

"Jas. Townsend. 

"My best respects to your uncle and aunt, to 
Polly VVillets, and all inquirers m general. 

•^ "J.^S. fOWNSENa 

"Bay of Honduras, i4"» of March, 1756." 

His fears of a rival, if indeed they were any 
thin°- more than the rhetorical flourish of a 
love?, proved unfounded, and they were mar- 
ried, April 2, 1757, and settled upon his father s 
homestead at Jericho, where he practised niedi- 
cine He was a member of the Provmcial Con- 
gress before the British took possession of the 
Town, and was elected a member of the hrst 
Federal Congress, in 1789, but he died before the 
session opened. The circumstances of his death, 
and that of four of his seven children within a 
few days of each other, make one of the saddest 
records we ever read. The seven were Mary, 
Patty James, Phebe, Almy, Samuel, Margaret. 
In 1787, Samuel, a lad of seventeen, went to 
New York, into the counting-house of Moses 
Rogers. In 1788, Almy married Townsend 
Underbill, a merchant in New \ ork. In 
1780 Phebe married John Townsend, also 
a merchant in New York. These three 
ab«nt members kept up a lively correspondence 
with their family at Jericho, especially with Mary, 
the oldest sister. A great many of these lettei-s 
are in the possession of Miss Mary Townsend, 
the daughter of Margaret. They are very in- 
teresting in themselves, showing great warmth ot 
family affection, and written in a very easy, agree- 
able style ; but when read with the knowledge of 
the melancholy fate that was so soon to befall 
this united, happy young family, they are extreme- 
ly touching. A few of them we will insert. 1 He 
f^rst is from Phebe to Almy, then living in New 
York It was written December 9, 1788. she 
was married early in 1798. and was now making 
her preparations. It may be edifying to the brides 
of the present generation to know something ot 
the preparations made by their great-grand- 
tnothers for the important event, and, to add to 



the interest on this occasion, we will state the 
fact that the bride was a beauty. 

TO MRS. ALMY UNDERBILL. 

"Jericho, Dec. gth, 1788. 
"Dear Sister :— To convince you how happy I 
am to hear from you, I sit down to thank you 
for your favor (which I received on Sunday) of 
a pretty late date. I thought quite hard that 
you could not answer my letter, though I read 
yours to Mary with pleasure, if you would not 
write to me. Oh, Almy, you do not know how 
much I want to see you, though I cannot wish 
you to come now, lest you would not come in a 
few weeks hence, when I am to promise to remain 
in one mind forever. I could wish my dear sister 
and brothers to be present when the solemn cere- 
mony is performed ; however, if you had rather 
come now than wait a few weeks longer, 1 can t 

insist upon it. • l 1 • 1, t 

"I send enclosed four pounds, with which 1 
shall be much obliged to you to get me silk" for 
a bonnet. White satin I have seen, from 1 en- 
brook's, which was twelve shillings a yard, that 
I think good enough ; but don't think it is so 
white as I could wish. You can look at it._ Per- 
haps I was mistaken in the whiteness of it; the 
width is the same of yours, and yours took 
three-quarters, I remember. Ribbon to put on 
behind, and lining for the fore-part and crown; 
you will know better how much to get than I 
can tell now. I should be glad you would get me 
such a muslin handkerchief as the finest one 
that I got for you. I likewise wish you would 
get me muslin and gauze for caps, a half a yard, 
and a half a nail of book-mushn of the width of 
this string. I would not wish it narrower, as that 
is the width of two crowns, and narrower would 
not suit. Silk gauze I should prefer; get a yard 
and a half, if you please, and five or six yards 
of ribbon to trim them. I am sorry to trouble 
you for these things, but hope you will not make 
it a fatigue, as I am not in a hurry. Bmther 
James will be in town (he now talks) at Christ- 
mas or before. I should be glad if you could get 
them to send by him. I believe I have done all 
my business, so will conclude with my most re- 
spectful compliments to Townsend and Samma 
(her brother Samuel), and believe me, your af- 
fectionate sister, 

Phebe Townsend. 

"This goes by Hubbs, whom I shall expect you 

to write by. <„, . 

"Monday morning. 

"I shall be glad you would get me camlet for 

a cloak. I like the color of yours. You caii 

inquire how much it will take, and ferret to bind 

the cape, and baize for lining. P. 1- 

The next letter is from Mary to Almy, written 
about two months after the birth of Almy s child, 
the first in the family, generally a sufficiently im- 
portant event; but these sisters were more than 
ordinarily pleased with the little stranger, and 
from this time their letters show how large a 
space he occupied in the family circle. 



75 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



TO MRS. ALMY UNDERHILL. 

"2yth May, 1789. 
"The sun has just tipped the tops of the trees 
with gold, and I am seated to write to my sister 
without any thing particular to say. It is a lux- 
urious morning, though a little chilly; all nature 
looks smiling, and the birds seem to enjoy it as 
much as any part of the creation. I think the 
Sentimental Traveller might have as joyous a 
riot of the affections, travelling this season of the 
year, as he could paint to himself in the vintage 
in France. We can't boast of many flowers but 
the narcissus. We have them this year, though 
they are small. I am not botanist enough to ac- 
count for it. I think Armstrong ascribes their 
blasting to the east winds; we had very cold 
wmds from the east at the time the buds were 
shooting, so I can't agree with him. I rather 
thmk It is leaving the earth untouched. Another 
year shall try it. 

"Yours by post I have received, the bit of vel- 
vet also, which I thank you for. You said you 
wrote m a hurry. I suppose, by the shortness 
of your letter, you did. I have written to know 
how that dear babe is several times, but can't 
get any particular account relative to him He is 
a good child, all agree, but whether he has ever 
smiled I can't find out. I asked George, but he 
could not tell. He says he has grown consider- 
ably. I wish to know your intention with regard 
to sending those things talked of to bleach 
Captain Farley is down, and will have things to 
bring up in the boat. H you would send them 
on board with his, I dare say he will take care 
to bring them ashore; we can get them any time 
from there. 

"I have heard there is considerable small-pox in 
t°wn. I hope you will be particularly careful of 
the babe. Is the measles done in town? I hear 
It IS now in Jericho. The whooping-cough is not 
far from us. John has had a chance to catch it 
Should they get both, it would be bad indeed 
Aunt A. s wheel is buzzing, and I must join, so 
conclude with love to Townsend, 

"Your affectionate sister, M. T." 

This Mary, the oldest of the family, seems not 
only to have relieved her mother of the care of 
the household, but to have assisted in every pos- 
^ble way the two young housekeepers in town. 
Ihere is no letter in which there is not some 
allusion to matters which she had in hand for 
them, and her letters prove her to have had an 
excellent head to contrive, as well as a skilful 
hand to execute, all the arrangements for house- 
hold comforts and necessities. The next letter 
is from her to Patty, written while on a visit 
to rhebe and Almy, in November, 1789. 

TO MISS PATTY TOWNSEND. 

„P, e "Nov 20th, Little Dock Stkeet. 
Uear Sister :— Several of my last letters I 
wrote in such a hurry, that I could not mention 
particulars; now have time, but am trcubled with 
the toothache, which will prevent my bein<T as 
particular as I intended. When I last wrote I 



76 



was at Brooklyn, where I stayed till Tuesday 
afternoon. Since I returned to town have been 
with sisters; only yester afternoon Almy and I 
went to John Coles's. Almy's girl has been very 
ill with the pleurisy. She is much better, and I 
am in hopes she will be able to do her work in 
a few days. 

"I expected, when I wrote, to have been home 
the last of this week, but Townsend is about buy- 
ing Leonard Lawrence's place at Flushing, or, 
rather, bartering away a house in town, which 
will detain us longer than we wished. He goes 
up to Flushing at Christmas, then Leonard is to 
come to town and draw writings, if they do not 
repent of their bargain, on Townsend going up ; 
after which, Townsend assures mc, nothing shall 
prevent his going immediately to Jericho. Towns- 
end thinks he is likely to make a very good bar- 
gain, and Almy says Leonard is equally pleased. 
It is clever when people can be pleased all around. 
John and Phebe will not go up till the latter end 
of next month, neither do I think Sammy will. 
He does not choose to go till after the'holidays, 
and I wish him to be up when Phebe is, as there 
will be fewer of them to be attended to and make 
a noise about the house. Sammy and Muirson 
are a good match in many respects ; they are both 
wild for skating. Muirson wanted Sammy to go 
with him a few evenings ago, on the Collect. I 
said so much that it prevented them. I told them 
I would engage that none but children ventured, 
then Muirson says, 'Sammy, I hope it will blow 
as cold as ever was,' and the next night they 
would go. I suppose this weather will suit them. 
"Yesterday, Townsend, Almy, and I received 
an^ invitation to dine to-day at Abraham Frank- 
lin's, which we intend to accept. I have drunk 
tea twice there, and have had invitations to dine 
before, but could not accept them. I have not 
visited very much since I have been in town, at 
least for the time that I have been here. I keep 
busy with one thing or other, and shall not have 
much to show that I have done. Phebe's curtains 
are almost done; should have finished them yes- 
terday, but fell short of binding. I helped Almy 
cut her curtains yesterday, and shall help her 
make them while I am here. What is the reason 
James don't come down? does his work keep him 
home? Townsend tells Almy if they go up be- 
fore James makes his visit, it will look as if they 
did not want to see him. 

"I was in hopes of hearing particularly from 
home. I received Peggy's letter, with the tur- 
nips. She was very short in writing. I suppose 
want of time prevented. If you have an oppor- 
tunity, do write all the news. If the bear-sicin 
IS done let me know how^ it looks, and how much 
you have. I have a notion entered me (you know 
1 am full of notions) that if there is cloth, .,d 
what IS clever, to make Sammy a coat. The 
reason I want to know now is, that I may get 
buttons and trimmings. How are the waistcoats' 
I suppose they are wove, if not dressed. 

"Phebe desired me, when I wrote, I would ask 
you to give her a little two canuK-wick; she has 
got tallow and wants to make Cn..dles before she 
goes to the country. Amiy will oe very glad' of 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



some, — a little will serve both. Towiisend and 
Almy join in love. This I expect will go by 
Whitehouse, who is in town, and, I hear, going up 
to-morrow. 

"Your affectionate M. T." 

Muirson, mentioned in this letter, was the son 
of Benjamin Wolsey, and a ward of James 
Townsend. of Duck Pond, about the age of Sam- 
my. The following letter i<; from Mary, probably 
the last she ever wrote, announcing her mother's 
illness. It is not known that her disease was 
the same with which her husband and children 
died, but most probably it was, as it occurred at 
the same time, and appears to have been of a 
very peculiar and uncommon character. 

TO MRS. PHEBE TOWNSEND. 

"De.\r Sister:— In compliance with yours, that 
I received on Sunday, I embrace the first oppor- 
tunity to inform you how our mother is, and has 
been, since I last wrote. She was as she had 
been for some time, and continued so till Friday 
evening, when she complained of being a little 
chilly, and we proposed her going to bed, but 
she rather declined, and sat till we found her 
faint; we led her to the bed; she was very sick 
at her stomach a little while, and then had the 
severest ague I ever saw a person have. We sat 
till her ague seemed going off, and she seemed 
quite drowsy, and then went to bed. We had not 
been long in bed before she was taken with a 
violent pain in one knee, and then in her breast 
and head. She lost her strength immediately, so 
that she could not turn herself without help. The 
next day she was easier, and when she lay per- 
fectly still, was almost clear of pain, but com- 
plained of such weariness that, when awake, she 
often wanted to be turned, and then the pain 
returned violently in her breast. She was very 
drowsy all the next day,— a very high fever, 
which continued till last night about one o'clock, 
I found she began to perspire, and the middle 
of the forenoon she perspired very much ; she 
was much relieved by it. We then put on dry 
linen, but she still perspires, and appears much 
better. She has slept but little since Saturday, 
and not any to-day. I am in hopes she will rest 
better to-night. 1 am much encouraged, — perhaps 
too much so. Papa has a very bad cold, but has 
been this day to Oyster Bay, where he saw 
Tommy Cock, who told him you were well last 
evening. Aunt Almy has been, and still is, very 
poorly, with a bad cold ; she has had both her 
ears gathered, and has been very deaf. This day 
she can hear much better. 

"I have endeavored to be particular, knowing 
you would be anxious. I shall write again the 
next opportunity, and hope I can give you a more 
satisfactory account. The basket and things came 
safe, for which I return thanks, and should send 
the basket by E. P., but expect he will go loaded. 
Betsey goes to Bay Side, in a wagon, and I 
intend to get her to take it that way, as it can 
go with little trouble to anybody. If mother 
should get better, and the weather good, we think 



to have your curtains washed, and send them the 
same way, that is, by Betsey, to the Bay Side, 
to go down with Samuel Talman's family. My 
love to Almy, and tell her this letter is designed 
for her, although addressed to you, and that I 
received hers on Sunday morning. Am as ever, 
"Your affectionate M. T. 

"To brothers I send love, also, and hope it 
will be acceptable. 

"Morning of the 2Stli. — I did not seal my letter 
last night, as I wished to sec how mother was 
this morn. She continues better, but slept very 
little. Our neighbor, John Carpenter, died yes- 
terday. M. T." 



This letter is not 
27th and 2Sth of Apri 
after, alarming intellig 
of other meniebrs of 
and their husbands 
husbands returned to 
3d of May. Samuel 
following letter from 
the 5lh, shows that 
then for the father. 



dated, but was written the 
1790. Two or three days 
ence was sent of the illness 
the family, and the sisters 
went up to Jericho. The 
New York on Monday, the 
went up on the 4th. The 
John Townsend, written on 
their principal anxiety was 



TO MRS. PHEBE TOWNSEND. 

"New York, May 5th, 1790. 

"Dear Phebe: — I have heard, by Carr Hubbs, 
that our father is very ill, and by his representa- 
tion, I fear worse than when I left Jericho. You 
may imagine my concern, and what I feel on the 
occasion. Why did you not write me by the 
above conveyance, as you know how an.xious I 
am? Let not an opportunity escape you now, 
my dear, in writing. Let me know how the rest 
are. I am told by Hubbs they are better. My 
apprehensions, therefore, rest on our father, 
whose illness appears to be alarming. 

"Our cousin Jacob Seaman's family are better, 
and the rest of my friends here are well, I be- 
lieve. Fail not to write me by the first convey- 
ance, and believe me, 

"Ever yours, John Townsend." 

This letter was written on Wednesday, the 
5th ; on the evening of Friday, the 7th, Mary 
died ; on Wednesday, the 12th, Samuel died, and 
Almy the same evening, and Phebe the night of 
Friday, the 14th. The father lingered until Mon- 
day, the 24th, when he died, and a servant-woman 
some time in tlie interval. The cause of this 
fearful mortality is unknown, but as it was con- 
fined entirely to that house, it must have been 
local. As might be supposed, the survivors of 
the family were completely stunned, and we have 
been told that tlie neighbors attended to all their 
farming operations, the only son remaining being 
entirely incapable of exerlion. In a letter from 
Townsend Underbill to Mrs. Smith, of Smith- 
town, half-sister of Mrs. Townsend, written in 
July, he speaks of Mrs. Townsend as then slowly 
recovering. After the death of Dr. Townsend, 
Patty, eldest uf the two snrvivius daughters, 
married Edmund Willis. James, the only son, 



77 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



went to New York. Margaret married William 
Townsend, of Oyster Bay. Her mother came to 
live with her, the farm was sold, and the name of 
Townsend was extinct at Jericho, where it was 
one of the first six European names known. It 
died out in a most melancholy manner; but of all 
who have borne it, none did it greater honor than 
Dr. James Townsend. His wife died in Oyster 
Bay, July 2d, 1796, and was buried with her 
husband and children, at Jericho. — Issue, Mary, 
Patty, James, Phebe, Almy, Samuel, Margaret. 

Mary was born November i6th, 1759, and died 
May 7th, 1790, unmarried. 

Palty was born December 26th, 1761, married 
Edmund Willis, an active member of Friends" 
Meeting, and died, without children, January 22d, 
1810. 

James was born October i6th, 1763. After the 
death of his father he went to New York, where 
he was a successful merchant, highly respected 
for his strong mind and sterling integrity. He 
married Bathsie Ketcham, and, retiring from 
business, settled at Newark, where he died, in 
1831; his wife, in 1737. — Issue, Nathaniel, James, 
Mary. The first two died young. 

FItebe was born September 26th, 1765, and 
married John, son of James Townsend, of Duck 
Pond, a merchant in New York, and died May 
14th, 1790. 

Almy was born April iSth, 1768, married 
Townsend Underbill, merchant in New York, and 
died May 12th, 1790. — Issue, Benjamin. (See 
Townsend UndcrhiU, Chap. XVII.) 

Samuel was born March 20th, 1770, and died 
May I2th, 1790, unmarried. 

Margaret was born February 6th, 1772, mar- 
ried William, son of James Townsend, of Duck 
Pond, and died October nth, 1818, and was 
buried at Duck Pond, leaving her children a 
strong consolation in the recollection of her many 
■virtues, which render her memory sacred even 
beyond that of most mothers. (See Jl'illiam 
Townsend, of James, Chap. VII.) 

NATHANIEL, son of James ist, of Jericho, 
was born February 25th, 1698. He bought of his 
cousin. Job Townsend. of Rhode Island, the 
homestead given to Solomon, father of Job, by 
his father John. It is believed to be the place 
afterwards owned by Elias Hicks. It is not 
known who his first wife was. In 1739 he mar- 
ried Martha, widow of Samuel Hicks, whose 
maiden name was Doughty. She had two chil- 
dren by her first husband : Samuel, who died 
unmarried in 1759, and Mary, who married Dr. 
James Townsend. Of Nathaniel we know noth- 
ing, except that he was an active member of 
Friends' Meeting, as their Record shows. He 
died May 22d, 1754; his wife, July 19th, 1759.— 
Issue by the first wife, Jacob, Stephen, John; by 
Ihe second, Martha, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Almy. 

Jacob was born May 3d, 1725, and died in Ja- 
maica, W. I., March, 1745. 

John was born November 6th, 1729; died at 
Guadeloupe, W. I., February 25th, 1763. 

In connection with these two deaths in the 



West Indies, we will state that there is a family 
tradition that some Townsend, at some time, died 
in the West Indies, leaving an immense estate, 
the proceeds of which, with accumulated interest, 
amounting to eight millions (it is not stated 
whether sterling or not), are in the English Ex- 
chequer, awaiting a claimant. A person connected 
with the family, who was not long since in Eng- 
land, reports that it is still waiting. Now if 
some sanguine, adventurous Townsend follows 
up the hint we have given, and secures that eight 
millions, we think we shall be entitled to at least 
one million. 

Stephen was born July i8th, 1727, and mar- 
ried Deborah Smith. He inherited the home- 
stead, but sold it and left Jericho; we think he 
went to Flushing. His son Nathaniel lived in 
Glen Cove, where his son Walter now lives. 

Martha was born July 2d, 1741 : she married 
Charles Jeffrey Smith, of Smithtown, who was 
engaged with Solomon Townsend in the manu- 
facture of bar-iron, at Peconic River. She left 
no children. 

Nathaniel was born October 5th, 1743. and 
married Martha Cornell, 1769. He lived in 
Brooklyn. — Issue, William. Jacob. 

Elizabeth was born July 20th, 1749. She mar- 
ried Cornell, and died 1767. 

Almy was born April 19th, 1746. She lived 
with her half-sister, wife of Dr. James Townsend. 
When his family was broken up, she took up her 
residence with his son-in-law, John Townsend, in 
whose family she resided several years. She then 
came to Oyster Bay, to her niece Margaret, with 
vihom she died, very suddenly, August 9th, 181 1. 
Of all these families, the existing correspondence 
shows her to have been a highly valued member. 
To all the daughters, in each family, she left 
legacies. She was buried at Jericho — the last of 
the familv laid there. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THOMAS, SON OF JOHN IST. 

This second son of John seems to have re- 
sembled his father in his untiring energy and 
activity, which, with a remarkable faculty for 
conciliating all around him, joined to a very su- 
perior mind and education, made him a most 
important person in the new settlement. He 
must have been over twenty-one when the family 
came to Oyster Bay, but he does not appear much 
upon the Records for a few years. After that, 
there was no public matter in which he did not 
take an active and leading part, besides being 
very much consulted and employed by his neigh- 
bors about their private affairs. For many years, 
there is scarcely a page in the Records upon which 
his name does not appear ; and there can be no 
doubt that, if placed in a wider sphere of action, 
he would have achieved celebrity. In the settle- 
ment of the boundaries with Huntington, Hemp- 
stead, and Robert Williams, in the purchase of 



78 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



lands from the Indians, and procuring of patents 
from the Governors, the services of "our trusty 
and well-beloved friend. Thomas Townsend, 
were indispensable. There was no office of any 
consequence in the town which he did not hold, 
several at one time, and never without one, from 
his first appearance until he left Oyster Bay. He 
was Captain of militia. Constable, Surveyor, Re- 
corder, and Justice. The idea of an important 
person holding some of these offices is ludicrous 
to us, but it was far from being so with that 
generation; they were all honorable posts, in 
their eyes. His Majesty's Justices of the Peace 
were always men of the highest position and con- 
sideration. The office of Surveyor was especially 
important. That the persons who held it should 
be men of ability in their profession, and of in- 
tegrity, was absolutely necessary. Otherwise, in 
a new settlement, where the divisions were so 
numerous and small, their whole system would 
have been thrown into chaos. There are indica- 
tions that the Town-Clerks— at least Thomas 
and his son— acted in that capacity not merely 
as Recorders, but as lawyers. And the Constable, 
in his official capacity, waits upon the Governor 
on various important matters. Thomas Townsend 
was not less popular with the Indians than with 
the whites. Besides selling him very large tracts, 
they gave land to his sons and to his daughters, 
—an unparalleled instance. The few of his writ- 
ings extant, are remarkable for perspicuity and 
condensation. The name of his first wife, the 
mother of his children, is unknown. Dr. P. 
Townsend says the second was Mary, daughter 
of Colonel Job Almy, of Rhode Island, and a 
sister of Audrey, wife of James ist, of Jericho. 
About 1673, he built the house lately owned by 
Mrs. Summers. In 1686, he removed to Ports- 
mouth, Rhode Island, where he held the office 
of Sheriff. He returned to Oyster Bay in 1697, 
but remained a very short time, and went to 
Tiberton, B'ristol County, Boston Colony. At the 
death of his son, in 1709, he came back to Oyster 
Bay, and was immediately elected Recorder, the 
office being left vacant by John's death. The 
last time he appears upon the Records is in 
1712, when he could not have been less than 
seventy-five, probably more. There is reason to 
think he returned to Rhode Island and died there. 
— Issue, Temperance, Sylvanus, Freelove. Sarah, 
John. The first died in infancy. John Harvey 
Townsend, of Oswego Co., N. Y,, traces back to 
Sylvanus Townsend, son of Thomas, of John 
1st, of Oyster Bay No further record of Syl- 
vanus is found in the "Memorial," but he is sup- 
posed to have left L. I., and gone to North Salem 
about 1740. James Harvey married Julia Chase. — 
Issue. Gertrude S., Irving, Upsnn and Clinton 
Paul. Gertrude S. married Russell Brooks Tay- 
lor, and resides at Washington. D. C. — Issue, 
Kenneth. Chase, Irving Paul and Ruth Rockwell. 
Irving Upson married Hattie L. Whittaker and 
resides at Boston, Mass. — Issue, Irving Upson, 
Jr., James Harvey and Clarissa Lucretia. Clin- 
ton Paul married Claire A. Blake and resides at 
Washington, D. C. — Issue, Qinton Blake. 



FREELON-E. DAUGHTER OF THOMAS, 

Was born on the 29th of December, 1674, and 
married Thomas Jones, of Rhode Island. Her 
father gave her a very large tract of land, at 
Fort Neck, still owned by her descendants, the 
Floyd Jones family. M.ijor Jones built the "c^ld 
brick house" upon this property. Thompson 
says, about 1696 Freelove also received, among 
other property from her father, a house and two 
lots, in Oyster Bay, which Major Jones sold, in 

1712, to George Townsend. Major Jones died in 

1713, and was buried at Fort Neck. Freelove 
married again to Major Timothy Bagley, by whom 
she had no children. She died July, 1726.— Issue, 
David, Thomas, William, Margaret, Sarah, Eliza- 
beth, Freelove. Thomas died unmarried — he was 
drowned. Margaret married Ezekiel Smith, Sarah 
married Gerardus Clowes, Elizabeth married Jere- 
miah Mitchell, and Freelove married Thomas 
Smith. 

DAVID was born 1699, married Anne, daughter 
of Colonel William Willet. He was a Judge of 
the Supreme Court of the colony. He died Oc- 
tober II, 1775. He inherited the estate, which he 
left to his son Thomas for life, with remainder 
to his daughter Arabella, in case of failure of 
issue to Thomas. In tlie Revolution, Thomas, 
remaining loyal, was attainted, and his property 
confiscated, and Arabella, wife of Richard Floyd, 
succeeded to it. Her son, David Richard Floyd, 
added the name of Jones to his own, and his 
descendants still retain the property and the 
double name. 

WILLIAM was born April 2Sth, 1708. He 
married Phebe. daughter of Colonel John Jack- 
son —Issue. David. Samuel. William, Thomas, 
Gilbert. John, Walter, Richard, Hallet, Freelove, 
Elizabeth. Margaret. Phebe. Sarah. Freelove 
married Beniamin Birdsall, Elizabeth married 
Jacob Conkling. Margaret married Town.send 
Hewlett (see To~amsciid Heivlett, Chap. VI.), 
Phebe married Benjamin Rowland, and Sarah 
married John Willis. . . ■ . 

Samuel was one of the most distinguished 
lawyers that New York has produced, and he 
was an active patriot during the Revolution. He 
married Cornelia, daughter of Elbert Herring, 
of New York, and died November 21, ipig.— 
T'jsue, Samuel, also an eminent lawyer, William, 
Elbert. Thomas, and David S. 

John married Hannah, daughter of Sarah 
Townsend and John Hewlett.— Issue, William, 
John H., Walter, Joshua, and Charles. 

SARAH, DAUGHTER OF THOMAS, 

Was born June 10, 1670. and married .Abraham, 
son of Captain John Underbill. They lived at 
Wolver Hollow, then called Su^co's Wigwam. 
In 1712 they bought the house lately owned by 
Hamilton, but do not appear to have lived in it. 
He died in T713. She sun'ived him several 
years, and was an active, intelligent woman in 
the management of her property, which appears 
to have been very considerable. Of her family 
nothing is known but that she had a son William, 



79 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



who lived at Huntington in 1717, and a daughter 
Sarah, wlio married James Dickinson. 

John, son of Thomas, was born August 28, 
1672. The tradition is, that he was a very hand- 
some man. He was married in Rhode Island, 
April 28, 1692, to Rebekah Almy, and moved to 
Oyster Bay, where his father gave him his house, 
having first offered him the Fort Neck property, 
which John declined, saying, "'Does father want 
me to go out of the world?" He immediately 
took the place in the community which his father 
had held. He was Surveyor, Recorder, Super- 
visor, and Justice, all at the same time. For his 
services in settling the allotments in the New 
Purchase, the owners presented him with a tract 
of land. His wife died February 24, 1703; and 
he married Rose, daughter of Mary Townsend 
and John Wright, and widow of Nathaniel Coles, 
Jr. He died November 6, 1709, of the small-pox, 
and was buried on Fort Hill. Thompson says 
that at the time of his death he was a member 
of the Provincial Assembly. He is called in the' 
Records "Rhode Island John" and "Justice John." 
— Issue, by the first wife, Thomas, Philena, and 
John; by the second, Penn and Rose. The chil- 
dren of the first wife were sent to Rhode Island, 
to Rose, sister of Thomas, and wife of Samuel 
Hayden, to whom John gives a deed of land to 
pay their expenses. Of Philena nothing further 
is known. Thomas and John returned to Oyster 
Bay, but nothing more is known of them, except 
that Thomas removed to the Oblong, Duchess 
County. 

ROSE married Zebulon, son of Rose Townsend 
and Joseph Dickinson.— Issue, Townsend, Henry. 
(See Zebulon Dickinson, Chap. XIII.) 

PENN was born November II, 1706. It is not 
often that any superior ability is transmitted to 
a son, but it is a very remarkable case in which 
It descends to the son, grandson, and great- 
grandson. John Townsend ist was a leading man 
m the settlement of Flushing and Jamaica. His 
son Thomas may, with propriety, be called the 
leadmg man of Oyster Bay. His only son, John, 
succeeded to his influence and popularity, and 
years after they had passed awav, John's son 
Penn occupied much the same position. In his 
day all the particulars of business, public and 
private, were not entered upon the Records, as 
m the time of his grandfather; beside that the 
settlement had received its form, and business set- 
tled into a routine, so that he does not stand 
out upon the Records so prominently as those 
who shaped and moulded the voung community 
but we find him holding the' same offices, and 
tradition assigns him the same position in the 
public esteem, and adds that he inherited his 
fathers beauty as well as his ability and popu- 
larity. He was married Januarv 1$, 1730 to 
Esther daughter of Zeruiah Townsend and Doc- 
tor Matthew Parish. He died December ^0 
1757, ^"d his wife, Januarv 2, 1702. Thev were 
buried on B, T. Underhill's place, his mother's 
homestead.-'ssue, Rose, Freelove, Penn, Judith, 
Esther, and Deborah. The first three died in 



Judith was born September 8, 1753. This 
lady's history would make no bad theme for a 
novelist. ^ It is certainly well calculated to "point 
a moral," if not "to adorn a tale." She was mar- 
ried August, 1767, to John, son of Jotham Towns- 
end, she being not quite seventeen, he not less 
than forty-four. She was a handsome woman, of 
very attractive manners, which, with her elegant 
taste in dress, made her the oracle of the young 
ladies in Oyster Bay. The -mill property was left 
to her husband by his father, to revert to Freelove 
VVilmot (his niece) if he died without heirs, and 
they had no children. He was a Justice, and one 
of the most active loyalists at the time of the 
Revolution. He went to England some time dur- 
ing the war, probably on public business. He 
had made himself so odious to the patriots, that, 
after the war. he feared not only the confiscation 
of his property, which he made over to his 
mother-in-law, but for his personal safety, and 
lived in concealment in New York. It was this 
circumstance, probably, which suggested to Ju- 
dith's active, scheming brain the idea of conceal- 
until she had secured every thing possible to be 
removed from the property. She stripped the 
place of the wood, in which the value of a great 
part of It consisted. How long his death was 
kept secret is not known— probably for two or 
three years— nor have we been able to learn how 
It was discovered ; but it is most likely that hav- 
ing secured every thing but the land, she thought 
the time had come to claim that, under the deed 
to her mother. The heir, Freelove VVilmot, then 
the wife of James Townsend, of Duck Pond, 
brought suit to recover her rights, with Aaron 
burr as counsel. It was defended upon a quib- 
,; \^i Bogart, counsel for Judith, told Chan- 
cellor McCoun, who studied with him, that she 
was the most remarkable woman he ever knew; 
that she had mastered the case completely, and 
was better acquainted with all the authorities bear- 
ing upon the points at issue than any of the 
lawyers. But it availed her nothing. Language 
coind not be made more explicit than that of the 
will. Aaron Burr announced the decision in 
favor of his client in a letter now in the pos- 
session of her grandson, J. C. Townsend In the 
course of the trial. Dr. Kissam, who attended 
John lownsend m his last illness, made the fol- 
lowing deposition: — 

"Benjamin Kissam, of the city of New York, 
physician, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith,' 
that he knew John Townsend, formerly of Oyster 
Bay, several years before his death; that he ap- 
peared to him to be a man of plain understanding 
and sound mind; that, from an examination of 
his books, he finds that on the ist day of Decem- 
ber, 17S5, that he was sent for to visit the said 
John Townsend, at the house of Peter R. Kis- 
sam, in the city of New York; that he accord- 
ingly visited him, and found him to be in a fever 
which proved to be the eruptive fever of the 
small-pox; that the deponent consented to the 
removal of him to a more airv situation, which 
was done on the third day of the same month to 



80 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



the house of a Mr. Harvey, 



street, in the 



said city ; that the deponent attended him there 
and at his former lodgings, faithfully, until his 
death, which happened on the s-eventh day of the 
san;e month ; that during his illness the deponent 
prescribed such medicines and remedies as ap- 
peared to be proper for his case; that Mrs. De- 
borah Kissam and Mrs. Rachel Wheeler (then 
Rachel Townsend) attended him during his ill- 
ness, and that he appeared to be perfectly satis- 
fied and content with his treatment ; that the 
deponent informed the said John Townsend of 
his dangerous situation, and proposed to call in 
another physician, but that he declined it ; that 
during his illness the deponent was desired by 
the relations attending him to keep his residence 
in New York a secret, as they had particular 
reasons for it, and requested him, after his re- 
moval, to charge his medicine and attendance to 
Mr. Heywood (by which name the deponent was 
informed he was known at Mr. Harvey's), and 
that the deponent made his charges arid directed 
the medicine accordingly ; that some months after 
the death of the said John Tow-nsend, John 
Kissam, attended by another person, called on 
the deponent, and asked him several questiqjis 
respecting the death of the said John Townsend; 
that the deponent, from a view of his books, told 
them the time when he was taken ill, when re- 
moved, and when he died ; that, among other 
questions, he was asked if Mrs. Townsend, wife 
of the said John Townsend, was with him during 
his illness, to which the deponent answered in 
the affirmative, — but from a conversation since 
with Mrs. P. Kissam, and from a recollection of 
several circumstances, he is convinced that he 
was mistaken in the fact last above mentioned, as 
Mrs. Townsend was not in New York during 
her husband's illness or at the time of his death; 
that he supposes the mistake arose from having 
seen Mrs. Townsend with her husband a few 
days before his illness ; that the said John Town- 
send, during the early part of his illness, w-as in 
full possession of his mind and understanding; 
that the deponent understood the said John 
Townsend had concealed himself voluntarily, a 
long time before his death, and that his con- 
cealment during his residence in the city of New 
York, immediately before and during his last 
illness, was also voluntary ; that he does not 
recollect any thing that can induce him to believe 
that the said John Townsend was under any con- 
straint from his wife, as to his concealment, as 
he always spoke of her in an affectionate manner; 
but that the deponent had an impression that 
the said John Townsend kept close to avoid cer- 
tain laws that had been made, which he thought 
might affect him, — but he does not recollect from 
■whom that impression comes. 

"Sworn to, this 29th day of August, 1789. 
''Benj. Kiss.\m." 

During the latter part of her life, Judith lived 
with her sister in Saratoga County, but came to 
Oyster Bay every summer to visit her numerous 
relations, and died here in the old homestead, in 



South street, in 1841, and was buried at B. T. 
Underbill's. She retained to the last the fasci- 
nating manners of her youth. Perhaps if this un- 
happy woman had had an equally legitimate field 
for the exercise of her very superior ability, she 
might have succeeded to the honorable distinction 
hereditary in her branch of the family. 

Esther, daughter of Peim, married, first, Sam- 
uel, son of Samuel Townsend ; second, William 

Thornc; and third, Lefferts. — Issue, by her 

first husband, Penn, who died in infancy; by the 
second, Hannah, Clara, and William Penn. 

Debor.\h, daughter of Penn, was born January 
6, 1756; she married Peter R. Kissam in 1779, 
and afterwards Charles Isles. — Issue, by her first 
husband, Catherine, Benjamin, Esther, and Sam- 
uel. 



CHAPTER V. 



ELIZABETH^ DAUGHTER OF JOHN 1ST, 

Married Gideon, son of Peter Wright. After 
his death, she married Gershom Lockwood, who 
came from Connecticut, and returned there after 
his marriage to her. — Issue, by her first husband, 
Peter, Anthony, Sylvanus, John, Gideon, Eliza- 
beth, Hannah, and another daughter, whose name 
was probably Tabitha. Elizabeth married Isaiah 
Harrison. Her family removed from Oyster Bay, 
and nothing is known of them or of Hannah. 
Sylvanus had an only son, Charles, who lived at 
Jericho, we think. 

ANTHONY married Mary Rhodes, daughter 
of the first Baptist clergyman in Oyster Bay, 
September 18, 1702. He was for several years a 
prominent person on the Record, and received, as 
heir of Peter Wright, a large tract of land, on 
the south of the Old Purchase. Nothing is known 
of his family, except the births of two children, 
Peter and Dinah. 

JOHN does not appear upon the Records, but 
George Weeks lent us an antique memorandum- 
book which proved to have belonged to him. He 
bought it from William Bradford, 1699. Among 
other entries in it is the following : "I, John 
Wright, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, to 
dwell, the 19th day of April, in ye year of our 
Lord 1707." And "John Wright and Abigail 
Barker was married by Samuel Cranston, Gov- 
ernor, ye 27th day of January, 1707." He appears 
to have been master of a vessel, and from his 
Note-Book and another book belonging to him, 
also lent us by George Weeks, was evidently a 
man of piety, intelligence, and education. His 
memorandum-book is bound in parchment, with 
a brass clasp, and is in perfect preservation. It 
is probable that he had no family, as there are 
entries of the birth of two of Anthony's children, 
but none of his own. 

GIDEON was married July 5, 1702; it is not 
known to whom. He had a large property in the 
Mill River Hollow, which has remained in his 
family until a very short time ago. — Issue, John, 
Zebulon, Elijah. Of the first two we know noth- 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



ing. Elijah was born April 4, 1713, and married 

/j^nna . He lived upon the place lately 

owned by Walter Franklin.— Issue, Freelove, born 
April 22, 1743; iMary, December 3, 1704; Zebulon, 
December 30, 1747; and Gideon, September 30, 
1751. Of the first three nothing more is known. 
Gideon inherited the homestead and was married 
December 6, 1772, to Mary, daughter of Henry 
Dickenson and Ruth Townsend, who was born 
November 12, 1754. Henry Dickenson was the 
son of Rose (daughter of Justice John Townsend 
and Rose, daughter of Mary Townsend and John 
Wright) and Zebulon, son of Rose Townsend and 
Joseph Dickenson. Gideon died June 12, 1836, 
and his wife, May 6, 1842.— Issue, Freelove, 
Letitia, Susannah, Elizabeth, Mary. 

Freelove was born September 12, 1773, and 
married George Cock. (See George Cock, son of 
John, Chap. VII.) 

Letitia was born April 18. 1776, and was rnar- 
ried January 13, 1795, to Walter Franklin, who 
■was born June 15, 1773. She died September 2, 
1842, and her husband, November 16, 1856. — 
Issue, Thomas ; Sarah, married to Lawrence E. 
Embrie, July 9, 1821 ; Townsend U., married 
Elizabeth McCalla, October 19, 1834; Betsey, mar- 
ried George D. Townsend, April 18, 1832; Mary 
W., married Walter F. Townsend, 1857; Rebecca, 
married, first, Townsend Dickenson, August 12, 
1830, and. second, John Gracey, October 9, 1850; 
Walter JNI, married Anne M. Mott ; Susan, mar- 
ried William G. Merritt; and Gideon W., mar- 
ried Eliza Hegerman. 

Susannah married Coe S. Downsing, Duchess 
County. 

Elizabeth married Obadiah Jackson. 

Mary married Daniel Cock, 1808. (See Daniel, 
son of John Cock, Chap. VII.) 



CHAPTER VI. 

JAMES, SON OF JOHN 1ST. 

We find by the Records that James married 

Jane Ruddock, and Delivered . From Dr. 

Peter Townsend's Note-Book, we find that his 
first wife was a Wright, which accounts for sev- 
eral gifts of land made to him and his son James 
by Anthony and Job Wright, and Richard Crabb. 
She must have been a daughter of Peter Wright. 
To his second wife, Jane, daughter of Henry 
Ruddock, he was married October 16, 1677. His 
homestead was the place now owned by the family 
of T. W. Burtis. This he sold, and removed to 
Cedar Swamp, where he settled upon the place 
now belonging to Robert Seaman, who married 
Abigail Willis, the great-great-granddaughter of 
James. This lady is remarkably well versed in 
the history of her family. She told us that her 
father, Townsend Willis, built the house in which 
she lives. The old one stood north of the pond, 
in what is now a locust grove. After the death 
of her brother, Jacob Willis, the place was sold, 
and one of the owners, wishing to move the barn. 



cut down a bank, and in so doing found the bone 
of a human leg standing upright. Inquiry being 
made, Mrs. John J. Hewlett, the oldest daughter 
of Townsend Willis, remembered to have been 
told by an old woman that there was an Indian 
burying-ground there. Wolver Hollow, or 
Susco's Wigwam, and Cedar Swamp were cer- 
tainly the principal settlements of the Indians. 
James and his brother George owned a tract 
of land at Norwich, to which place they gave 
that name in honor of the town in England, from 
the neighborhood of which their father came. He 
was a Surveyor, and although not the Town 
Surveyor, was one of those appointed to lay out 
Unkoway and Latting's Necks. He was elected 
Overseer while he lived at Oyster Bay. After 
that he held no office. Oyster Bay being the cen-. 
tre of population, as well as the geographical 
centre, the Town Officers were for many years 
all residents of the village. We find from the 
paper left by Squire George Townsend, that he 
died 1697 or '98, in the great sickness. There 
is upon the Town Records an entry, dated No- 
vember 19, 169S, a confirmation, from James, the 
eldest son, of the gifts made by his father in his 
will to his wife Delivered, and his sons Job, 
Thomas, Daniel, Ruddock, Joseph, Joshua. After- 
wards we found frequent mention on the Records 
of a son of James, named Rumone or Rumom, 
and were at a loss to account for his not being 
mentioned in his father's will, until it occurred 
to us that he might be a posthumous child. Mrs. 
Seaman confirmed our supposition, and said that 
his mother, comparing the bitterness of her grief 
to rue, called him Ruemourn. He was entirely 
unprovided for, but his brothers contributed to 
make up his share, especially two (probably 
James and Job) who had no families, and the 
homestead fell to him. Thomas and Joseph died 
young. Of Job we only know that he lived at 
Cedar Swamp. James moved to Norwich, not 
long after his father's death, and is called on the 
Records James Townsend, Jr., of Norwich. The 
settlement that he made with his brother Rud- 
dock, in the division of his father's estate, shows 
him to have been an amiable, unselfish man. 
He was a Surveyor, and made many surveys with 
James Townsend, of Jericho. It is probable that 
he never married. Ruemourn, in his will, men- 
tions his sister Deborah, but there is no other 
mention of her, and she might have been his 
mother's daughter by a second marriage. Rud- 
dock married Abigail , and first lived at 

Norwich. Fle then built at Oak Neck, on the 
east side adjoining Pine Island, where he lived 
some time, and about 1714 or 171s he removed 
to Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, after which 
we know nothing of him. 

DANIEL, SON OF JAMES. OF CEDAR SWAMP, 

Married Freelove, daughter of Captain Samuel 
Dickenson, and died in 1724 or 1725. — Issue, John 
and Benjamin, 

JOHN was born in 1712, and removed, in 1738, 
to East Chester, Westchester County, where he 
bought a farm. In 1739 he married Anne Ged-- 



82 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



ney. He was a Friend, but his wife being an 
Episcopalian, he was disowned by the Meeting. 
He continued a Friend in principle, but contrib- 
uted to the building of the Episcopal Church in 
East Chester. He was a very large man, being 
full six feet two, with a form in proportion. He 
had a double row of teeth all around. He died 
in 1787, and was buried in the graveyard be- 
longing to St. Paul's Church, East Chester.— 
Issue, Freelove, John, James, Elijah, Daniel, 
Mary, Margaret, Martha. John joined the Ameri- 
can army in the Revolution, and afterward settled 
in Herkimer, in which County and Montgomery, 
we have been told, his descendants still reside. 
Copy of certificate of his service in the Revolu- 
tion, from the War Dept., Washington, D. C. ; 

"It is shown by the records of this office that 
one John Townsend, rank not stated, served in 
Ludington's Regt. of N. Y. Militia, Revolutionary 
War, and that he received on Aug. i6th, 1777. 
£12 as bounty, and on June 14, 1786, £1 6s.^ 4d. as 
levy pay for service in that organization." 

(Signed) T. C. Ainsworth, Ajt. Gen. 

James went on board an armed vessel, and was 
never heard of afterward. 

Zepheniah Townsend, brother of Captain Elijah 
Townsend, like him became a revolutionary sol- 
dier whose war record will be found in the War 
Department, Washington. D. C. He married 
Sarah Wooden, sister of Henry Wooden, an Eng- 
lish Army officer who came to America before 
the Revolution.— Issue, Marcus, Richard, Nathan, 
George, Emily Smith, Angeline, Betsey and Kate. 
Marcus married Mary Bemus.— Issue, Julianna, 
Roxanna, Elijah, Martha, Martin, Philetaus Ed- 
ward, Mary and Sarah. Emily Smith married 

Ferguson, of Geneva, N. Y. Angeline 

married Matthew Courtright, of Onondaga Hill, 

N. Y. Betsey married North. Edward 

Philetus married Caroline Dodge.— Issue, George 
E., Electa, Adelaide, and Virginia A. George E., 

of Jordan, Onondaga Co., N. Y., married . 

—Issue, Burt De Lett, Mrs. Charles H. Young, 
Mrs. Laura Stevens, Grover Curtis, Clara and 
Charles. Hon. Burt De Lett Townsend is now 
a practicing Attorney at Fargo, Norlh Dakota, 
and is regarded as one of the most brilliarit 
young lawyers of the day. At present he is 
special counsel of the U. S. Atty. Gen. Bonaparte, 
and one of two attorneys prosecuting Pacific slope 
railroads for $40,000,000 in land fraud cases. 
Electa Adelaide married Alonzo Mead Curtis, 
now deceased. She died iqoo.— Issue, Hemon 
D., residing in Los Gatos, Cal. Mrs. Clara B. 
Curtis, residing in San Francisco. Mrs. Jessie 
W. Scowden, residing in Frewsburg, N. Y., 
Fred. M., of Jamestown, N. Y., Don Allen, of 
Jamestown, N. Y., Frank G., of Jamestown, 
N. Y., and Caroline V., residing in Frewsburg, 
N. Y. Frank G., born Aug. 8, 1878, is a gradu- 
ate of Jamestown High School and Cornell Uni- 
versity. He was Asst. Dist. Atty. of Chautauqua 
Co., N. Y., and is now regarded as one of the 
brilliant practitioners of law in Jamestown, N. Y 



Virginia A., married Marcus De Lett Grover, of 
St. Paul, Minn. Issue : Myra E. 

Freelove was born in 1740, in what was called 
the hard winter, when the Sound was frozen over 
at Throg's Point, so that wagons crossed. Her 
brothers were all good Whigs, but she continued 
loyal, and her daughter Jemima married Captain 
Eraser, an Irishman in the British army, with 
whom she went to Europe, but returned to this 
country, and died several years ago. Freelove 
married William Pinkney, a farmer of East Ches- 
ter, and died in 1816 or 1817. 

Records of the War Dept. show that: "One 
Elijah Townsend served as Captain of a Com- 
pany bearing his name, in Col. M. Graham's Regt. 
N. Y. Militia, Revolutionary War. Issue: Maria, 
Timothy, Henry, Ricketson, Townsend E. Sands, 
Henry, Sybil Ann, and Maria. Townsend, located 
in Parma, Michigan, and represented his district 
in the Senate eleven times, commencing by fram- 
ing the State Constitution. Timothy Henry, born 
at Clave Hollow, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; married 
Elizabeth Utley in 1838. He died in Rome, Italy, 
May 23, 1842. Issue: Timothy Henry, who died 
young, and Mary Elizabeth. His widow married 
(second) Emory Matthews, Mary Elizabeth 
adopting the name of Mathews. Mary Elizabeth, 
born at Albany, N. Y., Jan. I, 1841, married John 
Jay Hart at Oswego, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1859. He died 
Nov. 24, 1896. Issue : George Dwight, born Dec. 
24, 1859, and married Julia Penfield Dec. 3, 1885. 
Issue: Ethel Penfield Hart, born Aug. 8, 1886; 
Josephine Howe, born Oct. 18, 1888; James Mon- 
roe, born Sept. 18, 1862, married Sophia Shepherd 
Ould, Oct. 20, 1886. She died June 29, 1905. 
Issue: John Jay, born July 25, 1887; Shepherd 
James, born June 15, 1888; Susan Clarine, born 
Feb. 10, 1891 ; Frederick Massey, born May 4, 
1866, married Anna Lyman, June 7, 1S93. Issue: 
Henry Lyman Hart, born July i, 1897. Mary, 
born Sept. 12, 1869, married Smith Matt Bostick, 
June II, 1890. Issue: Maner Hart, born July 29, 
i8gi, and Richard Jay, born Feb. g, 1895. They 
reside in Oswego, N. Y., Mrs. Bostick being a 
D. A. R. 

Elijah was born the 8th of June, 1731, and, 
in 1773, married Mary Tredwell, who was born 
July 14, 1754. He removed to Duchess County. 
Died April 3, 1824. His wife died April 8, 1S13. 
—Issue, Sybil, Anna, Phebe, Tredwell, Martha, 
John, Hannah, Mary, Elijah, Samuel, James, Free- 
love, Moses. . , T^ . , 

Sybil was born May 26, 1774. married Daniel 
Gidley, and had six sons and two daughters. She 
died at Parma, Michigan, Jan. 16, 1843. 

Anna was born July I, 1776, married Stephen 
Dusenbcrry, and had five sons and six daughters. 
She died in Orange County, Sept. 10, 1852. 

Phebe was born March 18, 1778, married Fliezcr 
Taylor, and had two sons and three daughters. 
She died in Duchess County, Feb. 7, 1834. 

Tredwell was born Jan. g, 17S0, married Anna 
Durland. and had seven sons and two daughters. 
He died in Duchess County, Aug. 21, 1863. 

Martha was born Jan. 18, J781, married John 



83 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Christy, and liad two sons and two daughters. 
She died in Chautauque County, Jan. 25, 1842. 

John E. was born April 5, I/82, married Mar- 
garet Macord, and had two sons and three daugh- 
ters. He died in Duchess County, Oct. 4, 1836. 

Hannah was born June 21, 1785, married John 
Molt, and had six sons and seven daughters. She 
died in Michigan, Dec. 24, 1845. 

Maiy was born Aug. 14, 1786, married Conrad 
Overison, and had three sons and two daughters. 
She died in Orange County, Jan. 11, 1859. 

Elijah was born April i, 1788, married Susan 
Morgan, by whom he had one son and one daugh- 
ter. She died in 1825, and he married Rosannah 
Downing, granddaughter of Squire George Towns- 
end, of Norwich (see George of Richard, Chap. 
VII.), and had four sons and one daughter. He 
died on the farm which his father first bought 
in Ducliess County, June 17, i860. 

Samuel was born Aug. I, 1790, married Eliza 
Viely, and had two sons and two daughters. He 
died in Chautauque County, Dec. 6, 1839. 

fames was born Jan. i, 1792, married Anna 
Shear, and had two sons and one daughter. He 
died in Orange County, April 30, 1836. 

Freelove was born May 16, 1793, married Jo- 
seph Budd, and had one son and two daughters. 
She died in Michigan, May 21, 1840. 

Moses was born Nov. 12, 1794, married Hannah 
Alley, and had one son and five daughters. He 
is still living (1864). 

Daniel, son of John 1st, of Westchester, was 
born in 1756, and married Rebecca, daughter of 
John Ward, of East Chester. They were said to 
be the handsomest couple in Westchester County. 
He died in 1799.— Issue, Cornelia, John, Clara, 
Jemima, Isaac, Elijah. The last died young, un- 
married. 

Cornelia was born in 1778, and married Samuel 
Baker, of Hyde Park, Duchess Co. She died in 
1861. 

John was born in 1779, and married Martha, 
daughter of Thomas Fowler, of East Chester. He 
was elected vestryman of St. Paul's Church, East 
Chester, 1806 or '7, and afterwards warden, and 
continued in that office until his death, a period of 
forty-three years. He was elected, in 1816, a 
member of Assembly, and then to the Senate. 
He was also a member of the last Council of Ap- 
pomtment that sat in this State, and was after- 
wards elected Sheriff. He died in 1S49; his wife, 
in_ 1856.— Issue, Daniel W., James L., Edwin^ 
Richard, Julia, Clarissa, Henrietta. Robert G 
Mary R.. Martha A., Hester E. Henrietta and 
Robert died young. 

Daniel W. was married, in 1824. to Euretta M 
daughter of John Conselyea, of Bushwick, L. L 
From this gentleman we obtained all our informa- 
tion about this Westchester branch of the fam- 
ily.— Issue, John H., Thomas Jefferson, Ellen F 
Emily p., Elijah F„ Mary V., Daniel W Henry 
R, Andrew E., Euretta M. John, Thomas J., and 
Elijah, died young. 

James L. was married, in 1830, to Sarah, daugh- 
ter of Christian Dederer, of East Chester.— Issue, 



Sarah E., Martha J., Charles H., Daniel W., John, 
James H., William G., Mary E. Sarah, Martha, 
John, William, died young. 

Edwin was married, in 1826, to Anne Eliza, 
daughter of John Graff, of New York.— Issue! 
John G., Edwin p., Caroline p., Catherine M , 
Mandeville, Anne E., Milton, Akerly, Chester, 
Hamilton. Caroline, Milton, Chester, died un- 
married. 

Richard was married, in 1825, to Anne J. Wi- 
nants, of Waterloo, New York.— Issue, Kno.x, 
Heber. Knox died young. 

Julia was married, in 1835. to Henry Hull. 
Clarissa was married, in 1S33, to James Barker, 
and died in 1849. Mary R. was married to Dr. 
Philo p. Greenley, in 1843. Hester E. married 
John Brown, 1850. Martha married William Ho- 
talmg, 1843. 

Clara married William Adee, of New York. — 
Issue, Alva A. (deceased), George, Townsend. 

Jemima was married, in 1S04, to Charles Rod- 
man. She died in 1845.— Issue, Rebecca. 

Isaac married Priscilla, daughter of Richard 
Sands, and died December, 1853.— Issue, William 
E., Frances C. The last died young. 

Mary, daughter of John ist, of Westchester, 
married Gilbert Pinkney, of Westchester. 

Margaret, daughter of John ist. of Westches- 
ter, married Saephen Sneden, of Westchester, 
1763, and died in 1819. 

Martha, daughter of John ist, of Westchester, 
married Isaac Ward in 1773, and died in 1825. 

BENJAMIN, son of Daniel, of Oyster Bay, 
settled at Scarsdale, Westchester County, and 

married Elizabeth , daughter of one of the 

Huguenots at New Rochelle.— Issue, Rudduck, 

who married .—Issue, Benjamin, Joseph, 

Samuel, Margaret. Benjamin married a daughter 
of Isaac Ward, of East Chester. Joseph lived on 
a farm near Bergen, N. J. He is now dead. Sam- 
uel lives on the homestead. 

JOSHUA, SON OF JAMES, OF CEDAR SWAMP, 

Married Meribah, daughter of John Cock, of 
Matinecock, and bought a place, or rather several 
places, at Duck Pond, where he lived. His house 
stood a little southeast of the one now occupied 

by — Gruman. He left a handsome property 

to^ his only child, Noah. Plis widow married 
Micajah Townsend. 

NOAH, son of Joshua, married Margaret 
Wright, and died in 1763, leaving an only child, 
Joshua, very young. By his will, if the child 
died in his minority, the property was to be 
divided between the daughters of his uncle, Rue- 
rnourn Townsend, and his mother's brothers and 
sisters. His executors were William and Mica- 
jah Townsend, Benjamin Wolsey, and Jacob Car- 
penter. Tlie book in which the receipts were 
entered for all disbursements on account of the 
estate, makes quite a curious collection of auto- 
graphs. _ His widow married again very soon, first 
to Daniel Thorne, and after "his death to John 
Jackson. When Joshua grew up he determined 
to go to sea. To make the best of a bad choice, 
his guardians placed him with Captain Farley, 



84 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



who was bound for London. Thelast known of 
him, by Captain F., was, that in London he 
shipped on board a whaling vessel, and was im- 
pressed from it. From that time nothing was 
heard of him. His guardians endeavored to trace 
him, without eiTcct. His father's family claimed 
the property, under the will, and as heirs-at-Iaw ; 
his mother, upon the ground that he had lived 
to the age of twenty-one, and then died intestate 
without heirs, claimed the personal property, and 
she brought suit to recover it. It was decided 
in favor of the heirs, as Joshua was nineteen 
when he disappeared, and there was no proof 
that he reached the age of twenty-one. The 
property remained in the hands of the executors 
twenty-si.x years. Jacob Carpenter was the only 
one sur\'iving at the time the suit was brought. 
His answer is interesting, and we shall copy some 
parts of it. 

"To the Hon. Robert Livingston, Esq., Chancellor- 
of the State of New York: 

"The answer of Jacob Carpenter, the surviving 
executor of the last will and testament of Noah 
Townsend, deceased, late of Oyster Bay, in 
Queen's County, on Nassau Island, in the late 
Colony, now State of New York, and James 
Townsend, one of the e.xecutors of the last wills 
and testaments of William Townsend and Benja- 
min Wolsey, two of the executors of the last will 
and testament of Noah Townsend, aforesaid, cited 
by subpoena, with others, to answer to the corn- 
plaint of John Jackson, of South Hempstead, in 
the County of Queens, State of New York, and 
others named in the complaint. The orator, John 
Jackson, sets forth in his declaration, that he is 
administrator to the goods and chattels of Joshua 
Townsend. late of Oyster Bay, in the aforesaid 
County, who died intestate. To which we reply, 
that we know of no estate of Joshua Townsend's. 
The orator likewise sets forth that on the 12th 
day of February, 1760, Noah Townsend, then of 
Oyster Bay, did publish his last will and testa- 
ment, in manner and form nearly as recited. This 
we acknowledge, and the probate of the said will 
is in our hands, under which authority we have 
acted ; and further, that Joshua Townsend, son 
of Noah Townsend, named in said will, having 
manifested an inclination, in the early part of 
his life, for the seafaring business, undertook and 
made several voyages to and from different places, 
and having arrived at about the age of nineteen 
years, was, in the year of our Lord 1776, in 
England, where he was pressed, or entered as a 
seaman on board a ship-of-war, in the service of 
the King of Great Britain, called the Conquesta- 
dore, a guard-ship at the Nore. James Farley, 
master of the ship, to whom Joshua wa.s bound 
by indenture, sayeth, 'That about the middle of 
October, 1776, in London, Joshua left him and 
shipped on board of a schooner bound on a whal- 
ing voyage, commanded by Captain Helmes, 'of 
New York or Long Island, and about the latter 
end of said month, or beginning of November, 
he, the said Joshua, was impressed, on board the 



said schooner, and sent on board the Conquesta- 
dore, a guard-ship lying at the Nore. Some days 
after, he thinks about three or four, he met Cap- 
tain Helmes on 'Change, and he (Helmes) 
showed him a letter that he had received from 
Joshua, he thinks written on board the above-said 
guard-ship, concerning some clothes he had lying 
at Wapping. That is the last account we can 
give of Joshua Townsend.' The surviving execu- 
tor, Jacob Carpenter, further to know what had 
become of him. wrote to Patience Wright, of 
London, a relative of Joshua, requesting her to 
give every information of him in her power, and 
in answer to which she informed him that, some 
time before the latter part of October, 1776, that 
the said Joshua Townsend did breakfast with hci;, 
on the morning of the day in w-hich he was im- 
pressed, and that having information he was car- 
ried on board the Conquestadore, guard-ship at 
the Nore, she made every possible inquiry she 
could, respecting him ; that likewise John Bourne, 
at her request, did go to the Navy Office, Lon- 
don, and with one of the clerks in said office, 
did examine carefully all the books necessary in 
order to find out the said Joshua Townsend, but 
could not find, in any of them, the name of 
Joshua Townsend, or the least trace of him. 
Patience Wright was also advised to advertise for 
him, and did, describing his person, and offering 
a reward for his discovery, but without effect. 
Further, that John Townsend, and his son-in-law, 
Mr. Compton, both of London, searched the said 
office, and could find no traces of him ; which 
inquiry was made by these gentlemen at the re- 
quest of a John Townsend, of Oyster Bay, who 
went to England during the late war, and who 
was desired to make the inquiry. Since the war, 
a certain James Whaling appeared, and said that 
he deserted from the Torbay, man-of-war, a sev- 
enty-gun ship, at Sandy Hook ; that he was mess- 
mate to a certain Joshua Townsend, who was 
impressed, and brought on board of said ship off 
Cork; that he vi^as on board of said ship in the 
action with the De Grasse, in April. 1782, and 
had then been on board nine months; that the 
ship was ordered, in the month of June, to An- 
tigua to refit, when the said Joshua, with two 
others, deserted ; and that he had often heard the 
said Joshua Townsend observe he had a mother 
living on Long Island, and considerable property 
there. This information induced the executors to 
request a certain Richard Lawrence, who was go- 
ing to London, to search the books of said ship, 
to find something relative to the said Jo.shua ; 
who says, in a letter to his wife, in which he 
requests her to inform the executors, that he had 
caused the books of said ship to be searched, from 
the year 1780 until she was paid off, but could 
find no such name there, and did not believe the 
said Joshua had ever been on board the said ship. 
Lawrence soon after died in London. All which 
letters and information are now in the hands of 
the executor. No certain knowledge of the death 
of Jo.shua Townsend, and that he died under age 
and without issue, coining to the knowledge of 
the surviving executor, prevented him from ful- 

85 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



filling that part of the will of Noah Townsend 
which directs, in case the said Joshua should die 
under age, without issue, that his real estate 
should be sold and divided agreeable to the will; 
and that the real estate of the said Noah Town- 
send continued under the care of the surviving 
executor until the 25th day of May, 1789; and 
that John Hewlett, and Sarah his wife, and the 
representatives of Mary Willis, had often de- 
manded the real estate, and that the executor was 
advised by counsel, learned in the law, that the 
said John Hewlett, and Sarah his wife, being one 
of the daughters of Ruemourn Townsend, the 
brother of Joshua, father of the testator, and the 
representatives of Mary Willis, who was the other 
daughter of the said Ruemourn Townsend, were 
the heirs-at-law in case of Joshua Townsend's 
death, without issue, and that_ he might safely 
deliver up the real property into their hands, 
which was accordingly done at the time above 
specified; and that the aforesaid John Hewlett, 
and Sarah his wife, and the representatives of 
Mary Willis and others, the representatives of 
Daniel, Hezekiah, and James Cock, and Hannah 
Prior, had often demanded of the executors and 
of James Townsend, the personal estate of the 
said Noah Townsend, with the rents, issues, and 
profits of the farm that was in their possession; 
and being further advised by counsel, learned in 
the law, that they might safely do the same, pre- 
suming, as aforesaid, that Joshua died under age, 
and without issue, agreeable to the will of Noah 
Townsend, and that on the 2Sth day of May, 1789, 
they proceeded to the same, with taking good and 
sufficient security and indemnification, and obliged 
themselves to distribute to each one his share 
to the other claimants, under the will of Noah 
Townsend, after deducting such part thereof as 
they (the executors) judged the share of the 
oratrix in the bill of complaints, as widow of 
Noah Townsend, on the lapse legacy, and like- 
wise deducting, from the whole, what they judged 
a moderate compensation for taking charge of the 
estate. And as we are required by the bill of 
complaint to bring forward a statement of the 
personal estate of Noah Townsend in our hands, 
we insert the following: Amount of the inven- 
tory of the personal estate of Noah Townsend, 
ii,i2S, the further sum to be added of one hun- 
dred pounds, embezzled by the widow of Noah 
Townsend, supposed between the time of his death 
and the taking possession of the estate by the 
executors, and was never known to them until 
the time of settlement with the legatees, but was 
then and there acknowledged to he part of the 
estate of the said Noah Townsnd, and accounted 
for, to them, by John Jackson, the orator, in the 
bill of complaint." 

After reciting receipts and disbursements, the 
answer goes on to say: 

"As the accounts of the executors looked for- 
ward to a settlement with the heir, Joshua Town- 
send, only, without having regard to any acci- 
dent that might arise from his death, the whole 
personal estate was blended in one account, and 



was made chargeable, with the expenses of Joshua 
and every other contingency the estate was liable 
to ; and as the greatest losses sustained by the 
property was in receiving paper money within the 
period stated (177S-6), the executors judged it 
reasonable, in ascertaining the part or share the 
oratrix was entitled to of the lapse legacy in the 
personal property, to have an eye to those losses, 
and how much of them had probably fallen on 
that part of the estate, compared with the rents 
of the farm at that time received ; and in fixing 
a certain ratio, a given part of the whole, judged 
that the one-seventh part of the personal property 
in their hands was her proportion, which amounts 
to £352 Ss. Amount of the whole personal prop- 
erty in James Townsend's hands, $2,075 15s. lod. 
From which deduct £150, lost by him during the 
late war. His situation was near the eastern part 
of Queens County, within about two miles of the 
Sound, and near the British outpost ; and being 
obnoxious to their Government, his house was 
frequently filled with soldiers and refugees; his 
property was thereby very much exposed, and 
this money was taken, with a considerable sum of 
his own, sometime between the years 1778 and 
1783, by persons unknown. Deduct, also, for 
twenty-five years service, for taking care of the 
estate, and for the extra trouble of William 
Townsend, executor to the estate, for twejve 
years, £147. In the hands of Jacob Carpenter, 
after deducting commission, £712. Total net per- 
sonal estate, £2,491." 

The answer further says, "that the executors 
had often invited the orator to bring forward his 
evidence, if any he had, that Joshua Townsend 
lived to the age of twenty-one years, and then 
died without issue and intestate, in order to 
know upon what ground he claimed the personal 
estate; which he ever neglected to do, neither 
have any such accounts ever come to the knowl- 
edge of the executors." 

The estate finally divided among the heirs of 
Noah Townsend was ten or twelve thousand 
pounds. 

RUEMOURN, SON OF JAMES, OF CEDAR SWAMP, 

Married Mary, daughter of Captain John Allen, 
of Great Neck, who was born the nth of Febru- 
ary, 1701. He died in 1740. His widow married 
William Moyles, and died May 31, 1769. — Issue, 
Mary, Sarah, Restore. The last was born the 
5th day of May, 1738, and died young, and the 
daughters inherited the whole property, which, 
with the legacies they received from their mother, 
step-father, and cousin, Noah Townsend, gave 
them £3,000 each,— a very large fortune for a 
lady here in those days. 

MARY was born December 5, 1729, and married 
William Willis, who was born May 23, 1721. — 
Issue, Ruth, Sarah, Abigail, Townsend, Mary, 
Esther. Sarah died unmarried. May 8, 1787. 

Ruth was born September 7, 1751, and mar- 
ried Samuel Hewlett. — Issue. Louis, Phebe, Will- 
iam, Samuel. Louis married Hannah Hewlett. 
Phebe married Walter Jones. William married 
Martha Thome. Samuel married Mary Hewlett. 



86 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Abigail was born November 18, 17SS, and mar- 
ried Richard Townsend, son of Squire George, 
of Norwich, in 1775— Issue, Rosannah, born No- 
vember 26, 1779. died unmarried. 

Townsend was born June 23, I7S7. and was 
married March, 1783, to Hannah Bowne who 
was born August 17. 1762.— Issue, Mary Sarah, 
Townsend, Hannah, Abigail, Jacob, Wilham. 
Hannah died unmarried. 

Mary was born December 13, 1783- She mar- 
Tied John J., son of Townsend Hewlett. We 
called to see this lady, and found her and her 
husband, aged eighty-one and eighty-two, living 
in the old house which was the residence of his 
grandfather, at East Woods, which, in its antique 
simplicity, is a most fitting home for this inter- 
esting couple, who have lived there sixty-three 
years. He retains, in a remarkable degree, the 
vivacity and vigor of youth. She is more feeble, 
but presents in her delicate features, and com- 
plexion, silvery hair, and benevolent expression, 
which we never saw excelled, and the refined 
simplicity of her manners, an example of a lovely 
old age, that almost makes one wish'for four score. 
She is one of the ladies to whom we have dedi- 
cated this Memorial of her family. 

Sally married William Simonson.— Issue, Town- 
send, Margaret. Mary, William. Townsend mar- 
ried Mary Frost. Margaret married Charles An- 
derson. Mary married Henry Williams. 

To7imsciid married Mary Coles.— Issue, Town- 
send, Ethelinda, Hannah, Esther. Townsend 
married Mary Jackson. Ethelinda married 
Timothy Jackson. Esther married Thomas Jack- 
son. Hannah married Whiston. 

Abigail married, first, Samuel Jones; second, 
Robert Seaman. . 

Jacob married Phebe Hewlett.— Issue, Louis H., 
William H., Townsend, Hannah, Abigail. Han- 
nah married Samuel M. Titus. 

William married Letitia Downing.— Issue, Mary, 
Harriet. Isaac T., Robert. Mary married Charles 
Place. Harriet married Wells Sackett. Isaac T. 
married Anne Place. Robert died unmarried. 

Esther married Walter Jones, and died 1801.— 
Issue, Mary, Jackson, Sarah, Phebe, Townsend. 
Phebe married Hammett. Townsend mar- 
ried Mary Robbins. 

SARAH, daughter of Ruemourn Townsend, 
was bom March 18, 1736, and married, June 29, 
1751, to John Hewlett, who was born February 
17. 1731. They lived upon the place at East 
Woods now belonging to John J. Hewlett, their 
grandson, but afterwards removed to Flushing, 
where she died, September 9, 1808, and he, April 
4, 1812. — Issue, Mary, Townsend, Hannah, Isaac, 
Divine, Elizabeth, John. 

Mary was born May it, 1756, and married 
Isaac Youngs, February, 1763. She died August 
20, 1819. — Issue, Hewlett, Jacob, George, Isaac. 

Townsend was born June 7, 1758, and was 
married, February i, 1779, to Margaret Jones, 
granddaughter of Freelove Townsend, who was 
born August i, 1754. He lived upon the place 
lately occupied by his son, William H. Hewlett. 



He died August 6, 1832. His wife died MarcH 
21, 1825.— Issue, William M., John J., Mary, 
Sarah. 

IVilliam M. was born in 1780, and niarncd 
Martha Coles. The family Bible, lent to us by 
his brother, is a remarkable example of his in- 
genuity and dexterity. It had been very much 
torn and defaced, and he has supplied the missing 
parts of the leaves with a neatness and perfection 
truly surprising, especially when it is considered 
that he had lost one arm by an accident in his 
mill. He had a curious and carefully preserved 
collection of old papers, which his son very 
obligingly lent us. He died in 1864. 

John J. was born November 15, 1781, and mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Townsend Willis. He 
lives upon his grandfather's homestead, at East 
Woods. 
Mary married J. Allen, Manhasset. 
Sarah married Walter Frost. 
Isaac was born March 28, 1760, married Rhoda 
Van Wyck, February 24, 1779. He died May 16, 
1838; his wife, June 6, 1852— Issue, Betsey, John, 
Mary, Sally, Abraham, Oliver, and Alfred. Bet- 
sey married William Jones; John V. married 
Mary Waters; Mary married Samuel Hewlett. 

Hannah was bom February 4, 1762, and mar- 
ried. May 2, 1779, to John Jones, grandson of 
Freelove Townsend and Thomas Jones, who was 
born November 31, 1755. She died December 9^ 
1850, and her husband, August 29, 1819. — Issue, 
William, John H., Walter R., Joshua, Charles, 
Sally, Phebe, Elizabeth, and Mary. William mar- 
ried Betsey Hewlett; John H. married Loretta 
Hewlett; Charles married Eliza Gardiner; Phebe 
married Charles Hewlett; and Elizabeth married 
Jacob Hewlett. 

Divine was born February 5. 1767, and married 
Annie Coles, May 25, 1786. He died October 23, 
1846, and his wife, April 22, 1855.— Issue, Sally, 
Loretta, Ameli.T, Elizabeth, Hannah, Anne, Jacob, 
John D., and William. Sally married, first, John 
Hewlett; second. Judge Mitchell; Loretta mar- 
ried John H. Jones; Amelia married Thomas 
Coles; Elizabeth ("Hewlett"), born Oct. 22, 1792, 
married Henry Scudder 1818. Issue, Henry Joel 
Scudder, born Sept. 18, 1825, married June "21," 
1853, Louisa Henrietta Davis, died 1886. Issue, 
Henry Townsend Scudder, born Sept. 7, 1854, 
Charles Davis, born Sept. 24, 18.^6, Edward Mans- 
field, bom May i, 1858, Mary English, bom Sept. 
21, 1859, and Elizabeth, bom Feb. 26, 1861. Rev. 
Henry Townsend Scudder married Margaret 
Mott Weeks, daughter of Jacob Weeks and Hen- 
rietta W. Frost, June S, 1880.— Issue, Edna Hew- 
lett, born April 28. iSoo, Henry Holloway, bom 
Sept. 24. 1895, Dorothy, born March 31. 1899. 
Dr. Scudder is Rector of Christ Church, Tarry- 
(own-on-Hudson, N. Y. Henry Joel Scudder 
married, April, 1866. Emma Willard. — Issue. Will- 
ard, born 1868. Louisa Henrietta, died in infancy, 
Heyward, born April, 1870. Emma Willard. born 
Feb. 27, 1871, Anne Hewlett, died in infancy, and 
Hewlett, bom August 10, 1875 ; Hannah married 
Thomas Harrison ; Anne married Edward Brier ; 
Jacob married Elizabeth Jones ; and John D. mar- 



87 



TOW^NSEND — TOWNSHEND 



ried, first, Jane; second, Elizabeth, daughter of 
Hewlett Townsend 2d. (See Hewlett, Chap. 
XVII.) 

Elizabeth was born March 15, 1771, and mar- 
ried Samuel Jones, May 9, 1785, and died Decem- 
ber 28, i8i6. 

John was born December 3, 1775, and married 
Mary Hewlett, October 31, 1797. He died April 
13, 1812, and his wife, July iS, 1848.— Issue, 
Charles, Samuel, Divine, Townsend, and Martha. 



CHAPTER VII. 

GEORGE. SON OF JOHN 1ST, 

Was born after his father came to Oyster bay, in 
1661. He inherited the homestead in South Street, 
and, with his brother James, owned a tract of land 
at Norwich, to which place they gave that name. 
He died in the winter of 1697, in "the great sick- 
ness," so called for more than seventy years after- 
wards. He was married, November 17, 16S4, to 
Mary Hawxhurst.— Issue, Sarah, George, Rich- 
ard, and Samuel. Sarah married Thomas Weeks, 
which is all that is known of her. 

GEORGE, son of George ist, was born October 
18, 1687, and was married, March 18, 1711, to 
Rosannah, daughter of Nathaniel Coles, Jr., and 
Rose, daughter of Mary Townsend and John 
Wright, who was born October 2, 1691. His 
marriage is almost the first mention of his name 
on the Records, but after that, for many years, 
he is very conspicuous. Soon after the death of 
Justice John Townsend, he was appointed Sur- 
veyor, with James, of Jericho, and filled that 
office many years, and was actively engaged in 
surveying during the whole of his long life. His 
compass, in perfect order, and his family Bible, 
containing many entries made by his hand, are in 
the possession of his great-great-grandson (J. C. 
Townsend). He succeeded Thomas Townsend as 
Recorder.^ In 1712 it was resolved, at a Town 
meeting, "That, in consideration of several ser- 
vices done by George Townsend for the pro- 
prietors of the Old Purchase of Oyster Bav, the 
said proprietors, by a unanimous vote, granted un- 
to the said George Townsend one whole Town 
right, equal with any one purchaser's right." He 
was then only twenty-five. He was appointed 
vvith James Townsend, of Jericho, to conduct the 
defence of the Town, in the suit brought by 
Nicholas Lang to recover a lartie part of the Old 
Purchase, under the title of William Leverich. 
He was not less active in his private business; 
the number of conveyances to and from him is 
surprising. His wife inherited a parcel of land 
at Duck Pond; he bought the rights of her two 
sisters, and parcels from other persons, thus be- 
ginning the formation of the Duck Pond Farm 
t ^l^'J^^ bought a house in South street, south 
of the Summers house, where he lived nearly all 
the rest of his life. In 1754 he had removed to 
Duck Pond. He died May 11, 1762, and his wife, 
June 29, 1757. They were buried at B. T Under- 
hills place,_ the homestead of her mother, where 
their massive brown headstones now stand— Is- 
sue, Rosannah, William, George. 



ROSANNAH was born March 14, 1712 She 
married Hezekiah Cock. Several of her children, 
if not all of them, were born at Oyster Bay' 
They afterwards lived at Matinecock, on the place 
now owned by her great-great-grandson. Town- 
send Cock.— Issue, Penn, John, Violetta, Dorothy 
Sarah, and Gabriel. Violetta died unmarried. 

Penn was born May 6, 1733, and was married, 
m 1772, to Elizabeth Weekes. He had two daugh- 
ters, who died unmarried. 

John was bom November 10, 1735, and was 
married, in 1764, to Freelove Latting, who was 
descended by both father and mother from Henry 
Townsend ist. He lived upon the homestead at 
Matinecock.— Issue, George, John, Daniel, Am- 
brose, Refine, Richard, Latting, Betty, Rosannah, 
Clarmda, Sarah, and Deborah. The last four 
died unmarried. 

George married Freelove, daughter of Gideon 
Wright.— Issue, Anne, Gideon, Elijah, Hezekiah 

/o/!;i married Charity Frost. Betty married 
Daniel Frost. 

,,,^!f'""''^ married Rebecca Underbill.— Issue, 
William. 

Daniel married Mary, daughter of Gideon 
Wright.— Issue, William, Alfred. Maria, and 
Mary. All these except Alfred died young, un- 
rnarried. Alfred married Pliebe Ann, daughter 
of Jackson S. Townsend and Jemima, daughter 
of Hewlett Townsend ist— Issue. Townsend D. 
I his gentleman is most appropriately named, be- 
ing descended in ten different ways from' the 
three brothers Townsend. His mother is de- 
scended by both parents from Richard ; his grand- 
mother from John in two ways, from Richard in 
one, and from Henry in two ; and his grandfather 
from John in one way, and Henry in two. He 
was a member of the N. Y. State Senate in 1872- 
3; member of Assembly, 1876-81-82. He mar- 
ried Jane Dealle, daughter of Joseph and Sarah 
Latting, of Lattingtown. They celebrated their 
golden wedding Oct. 20, 1908. Have an adopted 
daughter, Anne Grace Smock. Hon. Townsend 
D. Cock is President of the Oyster Bay Bank, 

Dorothy was born the sth of June, 1742, and 
married James Cock.— Issue, James, Hannah, 
Sally, Benjamin. 

Benjamin married Ellanah Frost. 

S.^RAH was born February 14, 1750, and mar- 
ried Stephen Frost.— Issue, Sarah, Ro'^annah, 
Letitia, Mary, Eliza, William. Charles, and Jacob. 
_ Sarah married Charles Latting. Rosannah mar- 
ried Charles Cock. Letitia married John Redman. 
Eliza married Charles Latting. 

Charles married Anne Frost.— Issue, Valentine, 
who married Caroline Covert. Jacob married' 
first. Mary Stoddard; second. Margaret Morton. 
William married Sarah, daughter of James 
Townsend. of Duck Pond.— Issue. Julianna, Free- 
love. William. William married Anna, daughter 
of Jacob Frost.— Issue, Louise, William, Julia, 
Charles, Anna, Sarah, Edward. 

• 9*'""SV V'^-'rJ^"™ ^^'^- '5, 1753, and was mar- 
ried to Phebe Birdsal!, 1779. 



88 






Aliol.PH HKKKMAN LOTHAIR GOSLING, 
St. Davids and Philadelphia, Penn. 



MRS ADOLPH HERRMAN LOTHAIR GOSLING 
AND MISS GOSLING. 



St. Davids and Philadelphia. Penn. 
ELEANOR FRANCES CHARLOTTE GOSLING. 
St. Davids and Philadelphia, Penn. 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



WILLIAI\I, son of George 2d, of Oyster Bay, 
was born Feb. 13, 1715, and married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Henry Cock, of Martinecock, and 
lived in Oyster Bay until after the birth of his 
children, and then removed "to Duck Pond. He 
seems, from the number of estates to which he 
was appointed executor, to have been held in 
high esteem by his neighbors. The estate of 
Noah Townsend was in his hands twelve years, 
and descended to his son. He was an active 
man, and added materially to the Duck Pond 
property. In the Revolution he was a warm 
Whig, and, in consequence, had his house filled 
with troops and refugees, to his great loss as 
well as annoyance. He died of the small-pox, 
May S, 1777. His wife died November 30, 1794. 
He was buried at Duck Pond — the first person 
laid there. — Issue, James, Rosannah. 

James was born at Oyster Bay. April 26, 1742, 
and married Freelove Wilmot, granddaughter of 
Jotham Townsend, Feb. 4, 1762. He was a man 
of excellent business talents, and, hke his father, 
was intrusted with the settlement of several es- 
tates : that of Noah Townsend descended to him 
and remained in his hands thirteen years. Ben- 
jamin Wolsey's also was a very long trust. He 
added largely to the Duck Pond farm, buying, 
among other land, the homestead of Noah Town- 
send, when that estate was settled. As he agreed 
with his father in politics, he shared with him 
the resentment of the British and loyalists, and 
its consequent annoyances. For many years he 
suffered severely with the gout, and died of it, 
Sept. 12, 1798. His wife died July 21, 1809. — 
Issue, Walter W., John, Elizabeth, William, Ro- 
sannah, Sarah, and Esther. 

Walter _ Wilmot was born Dec. 18, 1762. He 
engaged in business as a flour merchant in New 
York, and married Charlotte Coles, May 19, 1785. 
The few who remember, speak of him with the 
warmest praise. He died Dec. 7, 1793, and was 
buried at Duck Pond. — Issue, Charlotte, James, 
John, Walter. 

Charlotte was born at Duck Pond, March 31, 
1786, married Charles Higbee, and died June, 
1851. — Issue, Joseph, Milnor, Charles, Elizabeth, 
Cliarlotte. James, Theodotia, Annie, Fanny. Wal- 
ter, Lavinia, Mary, Caroline, Henry, George. 
Joseph Milnor married .'Angelina Lloyd. Charles 
married Caroline Howell. Elizabeth married 
John Kilgour, and died April 6, 1863. Charlotte 
married E. S. Haines. Theodotia married Dr. 
Richard Eberle. Annie married Dr. Allen Gold- 
smith. Fanny married Mercer Beasely. Caroline 
married G. H. Coursen. 

James was born at Duck Pond, Feb. 17, 1788, 
and died unmarried, 1816. 

John was born at New York, Nov. 18, 179O. 
He settled in Mobile, where he married Maria 
J. Everett, in 182(1. — Issue, Walter, Virginia, 
A.melia, Emma J. The first two died unmarried. 
Amelia married Rev. H. N. McTyiere. Emma' 
married Penrose Vass. 

Walter Wilmot 2d, born Jan, 2g, 1794, and died 
Anril 2, i860. Married Anne Helme, July 24, 
1817. — Issue, Benjamin Coles, born 1818; Wisner 



Helme, born 1820; Charlotte, born 1822; Joseph 
Sampson, born 1824; Dwight, born 182O; Charles 
Higbee, born 1829; Maria, born 1830; Anna 
Helme, born 1832; Walter Wilmot, born 1836; 
Cornelia, born 1839. Benjamin Coles married 
Susannah Bell Dunderdale, 1846; died 1891. — 
Issue, Forbes, born 1847, married Nan Mclntyre, 
of Dutton, Canada, 1891 ; Charlotte, born 1849, 
married William H. Thomas, 1880; Wilmot, born 
1854, married Agnes Hampton Thomas in 18S1. — 
Issue, Susie, born 1884, married Albert E. Pierce 
in 1907. — Issue, Agnes, born 1908; Janet, born 
1909. Wisner Helme married Emily Heyward 
Kyle, 1855. He died 1897. She died 1907. — 
Issue, Wisner R., born 1856, married, first. Mar- 
guerite Zwald in 1887; she died 1888. He mar- 
ried, second, Elizabeth Walker, 1890. — Issue, 
Walker Townsend, born 1894, a"d Wisner Rob- 
inson, born 1S96. E. Helme, born 1858, unmar- 
ried ; died 1S66. Lewis Carroll, born i860, un- 
married ; died 1883. F. Capron, born 1862 ; died 
1S63. Emily Wisner, born 1864, unmarried. 
William Mount, born 1866, unmarried. Otto 
A., born 1869; unmarried. Lucile, born 1871, died 
1873. Estelle Louise, born 1874, married J. Smith, 
1906. Charlotte married Adolph Gosling in 1853; 
died 1891. — Issue, Annie, who died. Carl Walter 
Adolph, born 1854; died 1896; married Kate 
Carrothers, of Mexico, 1887.— Issue, Charlotte, 
born 1888, and Kate, born 1896. 

ADOLPH HERMAN LOTHAIR (GOS- 
LING), born in Liverpool, England, July 15, 1859, 
married Frances Taber Moses, born in Philadel- 
phia. Pa., April 8, 1861. — Issue, Eleanor Frances 
Charlotte, born in St. Davids, Pa., Dec. 26, 1892. 

j\Ir. Gosling is in business in Philadelphia, has 
his family residence at St. Davids, Pa., and is a 
prominent member of "The Union League Club," 
of Philadelphia. 

On his paternal side he is descended from the 
ancient family of that name who settled in Osna- 
brueck Hanover, Germany, nearly five centuries 
back. Members of his family continue to live on 
the great estate, to visit whom, he makes makes 
frequent crossings. Mr. Gosling is admired for 
his genial nature, never failing courtesy and good 
fellowship, and with his charming wife and beau- 
tiful daughters they are universal social favorites. 

George Lewis Townsend, born l86r, married 
Mary McCormick, of Texas. — Issue, Aline, born 
1908. Charlotte Louise, born 1862, married Ru- 
dolph Schwartze.— Issue. Lisa, born 1895; Ida, 
born 1897, and Rudolph Erich, born 1898. Joseph 
Sampson, unmarried. Dwight married Emily 
Hodges 1854. He died 1809. She died 1905. — 
Issue, James Bliss, born 1855. married Eugenie 
Gibert 1886. — Issue, IMildred .'Xudrcy Almy. born 
1888. Audinet, born 1890, died 1891. Reginald 
Wilmot, born 1890, and Nocmi Doris, born 1895. 
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are very prominent so- 
cially, both in America and Europe. He is the 
owner and publisher of "America's Art Journal." 
They reside in New York City. Anne Helme, 
born 1858, married Flerbcrt Ashmore, 1882. — Issue, 
Henry Taber, born 1883, who married Eulalie 
Matthews, 1907. Ruth, born 1884; Dwight, born 



89 



T O W N S E N D ~ T O W N S H E N D 



i860, died i86r. Mary Serena, born 1868, un- 
married. Charles Higbee married, first, Mary 
Louise Mitchell. He died 1898. — Issue, Elizabeth 
Gertrude, born 1S59, died 1S60. Annie Wilmot, 
born i860, married John Howard Scribner, 1885. 
— Issue, John Howard, born 1S85; Herbert, born 
1887; Dorothy, born iSSg; Arthur Mead, born 
1891 ; Margaret, born 1893, died 1893 ; Frances, 
born 1900. Caroline Louise, born 1861, married 
Randolph Rodman, 1883. — Issue, Randolph Sel- 
den, born 1884, died 1886; Louise, born 1885; 
Nannie, born 1S87; Elizabeth Selden, born 1889; 
Caroline, born 1891 ; Elsie, born 1893 ; Agnes, 
born 1898, died 1905 ; Beverly Randolph, born 
1902, and Virginia, born 1905. Charles Higbee 
married, second, Ellen L. P. Wyer, 1866. — Issue, 
Dr. Charles Wilmot, born 1867, married Emma 
Albertina Walser in 1S90. He died 1907. — Issue, 
Agnes, born i8gi ; Louise, born 1892; Theodore 
Walser, born 1893 ; Maria Julia, born 1895 ; Em- 
ma Natalie, born 1896, and Wilmot Charles, born 
1898. Dr. Theodore Irving, born 1869, married 
Katharine Burdick, 1908. Maria, unmarried. 
Annie Helme married Townsend Cox, 1856. She 
died 1905. — Issue, Wilmot. born 1856, married 
Maria D. Bleecker-Miller, 1896. Charlotte, born 
1858, married Rev. J. Hardenbrook Townsend, 
1881. — Issue, Lloyd Woolsey, born 1882; Dorothy, 
born 1884; James Farley, born 1886; George 
Houghton Wilmot, born 1888, died 1891 ; Char- 
lotte, 1891, and John Hardenbrook, Jr., born 

1893. Townsend, born , married Marcia V. 

Duryea, 1893. — Issue, Julia Eleanor, born 1894, 
and Marcia Duryea, born 1897. Theodore Irving, 
born , married Jane Bailey Eckstein, of Cin- 
cinnati, 1898; Daniel Hargate. born , married 

Frances Lawrason Buckner, of Baltimore, 1903. — 
Issue, Alice Lawrason, born 1904, and Daniel 
Townsend, born 1906. Walter Wilmot, unmar- 
ried, died 1840. Cornelia married Rev. Joseph F. 
Jowitt, of Leeds, England, 1873. He died 1805. — 
Issue, Georgianna Norton, bom 1874, married 
Berkeley Tangier Smith, 1894. — Issue, Elizabeth 
C, born 1904. Richard Anselm, born 1873, died 
1893. Constance Mary, born 1876. Joseph Bert- 
ram, born 1S73, married Ruth W. Atwood, 1906. 
— Issue, Joseph Bertram, Jr., born 1907. Benja- 
min Townsend, born 1880. 

John was born March 17, 1765. He married 
Phebe, daughter of Dr. James Townsend, of 
Jericho, Jan. 25, 1789. She died without children, 
May 14, 1790. He married Rebecca Franklin, 
Jan. 7, 1793. He was for many years a prominent 
merchant in New York, highly esteemed for abil- 
ity and integrity. He died Sept. 18. 1824; his 
wife. May, 1822. They were buried in the grave- 
yard belonging to Friends' Meeting-House in 
New York. — Issue. Walter. Deborah, Julia, James 
W., Phebe. John, William, Charles, Louisa. 

Walter married Mary Franklin. James W. 
married Margaret Townsend. daughter of Will- 
iarn 2d, of Oyster Bay, and died February, 1861. 
Julia died unmarried. March 13, 1842. John mar- 
ried, first, Maria Maverick; second, Priscilla 
Whitney. William married Cornelia Maverick, 



and died August, 1847. — Issue, Manton, Thomas, 
William, Charles, Cornelia, Mary, Emily. 

Louisa married Frank Smith. 

Elizabeth was born May 5, 1767, and married 
Nathaniel Coles, of Dosoris. — Issue, Sarah, Phebe, 
Fanny, Eliza, Nathaniel, Butler, Lavinia, Hannah, 
Charlotte. Nathaniel died unmarried. 

Sarah married, first, James Nelson; second, 
Stephen Kingsland.— Issue, William, Horatio, 
Sarah. William married Maria Kelsey. 

Phebe married John N. Lloyd. — Issue, John, 
Angelina, Phebe, Henry. Angelina married J. 
M. Higbee. Phebe married Dr. Alexander Stev- 
ens. Henry married Brandegee. 

Fanny married Kirkbride Milnor. — Issue, Sarah, 
J. Kirkbride, Coles, J. Higbee, George, Fanny, 
Charles H., J. N. Lloyd. Kirkbride married 

Elizabeth Ellis. J. N. Lloyd married 

Semmes. 

Eliza married John B. Coles. — Issue, Frederick, 
Margaret, John, Frank. Frederick married, first, 
Jane Maria Coles; second, Mary Adams. John 
married Harriet Codman. Frank married Fanny 
Pearsall. Margaret married Dr. Dewitt Tappan. 

Butler married Julia Weeks. — Issue, Charles, 
Nathaniel, Edwin, Butler, JMiriam. Charles mar- 
ried, first, Lucy Stone; second, Josephine Smith. 
Nathaniel married Maria Dickerson. Edwin mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of Dr. Charles Townsend, 
of Albany. Butler married Mary, daughter of 
George Townsend, of Oyster Bay. 

Lavinia married Thomas Pearsall. — Issue, Coles, 
Thomas, James, Fanny. James married Ella 
Frost. Fanny married Frank Coles. 

Hannah married Daniel Cock. — Issue, Lavinia, 
Farley, Townsend. Farley married Maria Mc- 
intosh. Townsend married Annie, daughter of 
Walter W. Townsend. 

Charlotte married George Kelsey.— Issue, Char- 
lotte. 

IVilliam was born Sept. 12, 1769, and married 
Margaret, daughter of Dr. James Townsend, of 
Jericho, Feb. 8, 1792, and settled at Oyster Bay. 
He was several times a member of the Legisla- 
ture, and one of the principal movers in the 
establishment of the Academy at Oyster Bay. He 
held the office of trustee many years, and was 
very active in promoting the interests of the 
institution. He died Aug. 23, 1834; his wife, 
Oct. II, 1818. They were buried at Duck Pond. 
— Issue, James, William, Mary, Phebe, Alniy 
James, George, Margaret, Frances, Samuel, Ger- 
trude. The first and last died in infancy. 

William married Fanny Seaman, Feb. 12, 1817. 
He died Sept. 10, 1828; she. May 27, 1854. — Issue, 
Billopp, Margaret, William, Matilda, Henry. 
Margaret married James W. Townsend, who died 
Feb., 1861. William died unmarried. Matilda 
married George W. Cock. 

Mary, by the death of her mother, was left, 
at the age of twenty, with the entire charge of 
a large family of children, a trust which she dis- 
charged with a degree of affection, prudence, and 
self-denial which only those intimately acquainted 
with the circumstances can appreciate. She re- 



90 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



tnained with her brother James, after the death 
of their father, until the marriage of her sister 
society, and with whom she still resides. 

Phebe married Captain B. V. Hoffman, U. S. 
N., Nov. 29, 181 7. He died Dec. 10, 1834.— Issue, 
Margaret, Gertrude, Mary. The last died in in- 
fancy. Gertrude married William C. Uhlhorn, 
who died, 1863. 

Almy married William Winder Polk, of Som- 
erset County, Maryland, November 29, 181 7. He 
died on the morning, she in the evening, of Feb- 
ruary 13, 1856, in Frederick City, Maryland, where 
they were buried. — Issue, Winder, Mary, Mar- 
garet, Frank, Gertrude, James, Louisa. Mary 
married Victor Monroe, of Kentucky, who died 
1855. Frank and Gertrude died in infancy. James 
died 1851. Louisa married J. Bannister Hall, of 
Baltimore. 

James C. married Charlotte Aurelia, daughter 
of General William H. Winder, of Baltimore, No- 
vember 14, 1846. 

George married Elizabeth Covert, January 10, 
1832. She died September 28, 1846.— Issue, Mary, 
George, Beekman. Mary married Butler Coles. 
George died unmarried, October 10, 1863. 

Margaret married Dr. James C. Townsend, 
December 5, 1838.— Issue, Julia, James. 

Frances married Jacob F. Covert, January 10, 
1832. He died February 27, 1861.— Issue, Frances, 
William, Margaret, James, Aurelia. Frances and 
James died in infancy. William died April 29, 

1853- 

Samuel married Louisa Parish. — Issue, Fanny, 
William, Anna, Henrietta, Louisa, Samuel, Char- 
lotte, Mabel. Charlotte died in infancy. 

Rosannah was born April I, 1775, and died 
unmarried. May 13, 1824. 

Esther and Sarah, twins, were born November 
12, 1778. Esther married Thomas Coles, and had 
one son, who died in infancy. She died April 
2, 1854. 

Sarah married William Frost, March, 1796, and 
died March, 1853. (See William Frost, son of 
Sarah, Chap. VII.) 

Rosannah, daughter of William, of Duck 
Pond, was born in Oyster Bay, September 4, 
1751, and married Daniel Cock, of Matinecock, 
December 20, 1768. They lived upon the home- 
stead of his family at Matinecock, now owned by 
her grandson, William T. Cock. She died Oc- 
tober, 1831. — Issue, Lizzie, James, Townsend, De- 
borah, William, Thomas, Phiany, Maria. 

Liz::ie was born December 7, 1769, and mar- 
ried Samuel Cock, of Buckram. She died April, 
1859; he, August, 1855, aged ninety.— Issue, Lo- 
retta, Joshua, Clark, James, Deborah, Samuel, 
William, Rosannah, who died in infancy. 

Loretta married Isaac Covert. — Issue, Jacob F. 
and Elizabeth. (See George and Frances, of 
William Toianscnd. of Oyster Bay, Chap. VII.) 

Joshua married Susan Cock. 

Clark married Catharine Weeks.— Issue, Mary E. 
(see Isaac Townsend. Chap. XVII.), George W. 
(see Matilda, of William 2d. Chap. VII.) 

James married Betsey Cock.— Issue, Anne, Su- 
san, Sarah. 



Deborah married Caleb Covert— Issue, Caroline 
(see Valentine Frost, Chap. VII.), William. 

Samuel married Fanny Cock.— Issue, Loretta, 
Benjamin, Augustus, Joshua. 

William married Elizabeth Hicks.— Issue, Mary, 
Isaac. Mary died young, unmarried. 

James was born January 12, T772, and went 
into business in New York-. He married Kate 
Akerly, and died of the yellow fever, 1794. His 
widow married the distinguished physician, Sam- 
uel Mitchell. 

Townsend was born December 4, 1773, and 
married Margaret Farley, November 14, 1792. He 
is still living (March, 1864) at New Rochelle. — 
Issue, James, Daniel, Margaretta. 

Daniel married Hannah, daughter of Elizabeth 
Townsend and Nathaniel Coles. — Issue, Lavinia, 
Farley, Townsend. 

Margaretta died unmarried, November 28, i860. 

Deborah was born February 5, 1776, and mar- 
ried George, son of Prior Townsend. — Issue, 
James, George. 

James married, first, Anne Valentine. — Issue, 
Cornelia; second, Margaret Townsend. — Issue, 
Julia, James. 

George married Annie Frost, and died without 
children. 

William was born August 22, 1780, and mar- 
ried Abigail Somerindyke. He died without chil- 
dren, June, 1858. 

Thomas was born June 12. 1783. He studied 
medicine and settled in New York, where he en- 
joyed a large practice, until frequent and severe 
attacks of the gout obliged him to retire, a few 
years ago. He married, first, Elizabeth Ferris. — 
Issue, Eliza, Ann Augusta, Emily, Thomas ; sec- 
ond, Esther Seymour; and third, Margaretta 
Reilly. — Issue, Elizabeth, William. 

Eliza married James Parsons. Ann Augusta 
married Edward Willis. Emily married Richard 
Bowne. Thomas married Ann Augusta Wood. 

Phiany was born April 23, 1785, and married 
Qiarles Thome.— Issue, Anne, Mary, Lavinia, 
Margaret. 

Annie married .^rmand Le Chaize. Mary died 
unmarried. Lavinia married Dr. Edgar Voorhees. 

Maria married Dr. Joseph Hunt.— Issue, Will- 
iam, Benjamin, Maria. 

GEORGE, SON OF GEORGE 20, OF OYSTER BAY, 

Was born November 13, 1720, and settled on the 
place now owned by his great-grandson. Dr. 
James C. Townsend. He married Mary Prior, 
and died January 20, 1761.— Issue, Prior, Han- 
nah. 

Prior was born on the nth of December, 1749, 
and married Sarah Fecks. He was Judge of the 
County Court, and a warm Whig in the Revolu- 
tion.— Issue, Jacob, Deborah, Hannah, George. 
The daughters died unmarried. 

Jacob married Elizabeth, daughter of Hewlett 
Townsend ist, and died without children. 

George married Deborah, daughter of Rosannah 
Townsend and Daniel Cock. He was twice 
elected to the House of Representatives.— Issue, 
James, George. 

James married, first, Anne Valentine.— Issue, 

91 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Cornelia, married to David F. Youngs; second, 
Margaret, daughter of William Townsend, of 
Oyster Bay. — Issue, Julia, James. 

George married Annie Frost, and died without 
children. 

H.\NNAH was born May 21, 1755, and married 
David Valentine. — Issue, Susan, Sarah, George, 
Ellwood, Charles. The daughters died unmar- 
ried. 

Elhvood married Mary Post. — Issue, Caroline, 
Emily, Susan. 

Charles married Adee. — Issue, David. 

Richard, son of George ist, of Oyster Bay, 
was born in i6go, married Susannah Weeks, and 
settled at Norwich, on the place now belonging 
to William Vernon. He died March 30th, 1750, 
and was buried on Fort Hill, where his tomb- 
stone now stands. — Issue, John, George. John 
married Elizabeth Seaman, and settled at Ma- 
maroneck, where he died June 6th, 1771. 

GEORGE was born November 12th, 1713, and 
■was married November l8th, 1743, to Rosannah 
Youngs, who was born June isth, 1725. There 
are a few still living who remember him, and 
they confirm the traditionary description of him 
as a tall, large man, of strong, original mind, and 
great energy. He was an active Whig in the 
Revolution. He is always distinguished as Squire 
George Townsend. We have seen a very inter- 
esting letter written by him in 1769 (now in the 
possession of his grandson, John Townsend, of 
Poughkeepsie), containing many items of family 
history, in which he took great interest. He died. 
May 14th, 1802; his wife, December 12th, 1794. — 
Issue, Samuel, Temperance, Richard, Mary, John, 
George, Thomas, Phebe. Mary died unmarried, 
March 27th, 1804. 

Samuel was born August 7th, 1744, and was 
married to Sarah Horton, September loth, 1773. 
When the Revolution broke out he joined the 
American army, and was taken prisoner and con- 
fined in the Provost, New York, from whence he 
addressed the following letter to his wife. The 
original is preserved at Washington's Head- 
quarters, Newburgh, which is now owned by Eli 
Hasbrouck, the nephew of his brother John's wife, 
and the grandson of jMercy Townsend, daughter 
of Samuel. (See Samuel, of George ist. Chap. 

"CATALOGUE 146. 

"Provost, New York, August 2d, 1782. 
"Dear Sarah :— I have the satisfaction to in- 
form you, by Colonel St. John, of Norwalk, who 
goes out to-morrow on parole, that I enjoy a 
good state of health, and am well supplied with 
the necessaries of life. Hope my friends in the 
country have not forgot me. I would not wish to 
entertain a thought but they will use their en- 
deavors to procure my exchange, but must con- 
fess I am at a loss for the reason that that has 
not been done before this time. I have repeatedly 
been informed that there are a number of pris- 
oners at West Point, Peekskill, and Poughkeepsie, 
for whom, possibly, I could have been exchanged 
before this time, if properly attended to. My 



best respects to all friends. Captain Sackett and 
Messrs. Fish and Sackett in particular, and beg 
that they would, without delay, apply in my behalf 
to their E.xcellencies General Washington and 
Governor Clinton, which I have no doubt will 
have the desired effect. However, as the fortune 
of war brought me here, I hope you will make 
yourself as easy as possible under present diffi- 
culties, as I am determined patiently to wait the 
wished-for day when I may enjoy the happiness 
of being present with my family. 

"Your most affectionate husband, 

"Samuel Townsend. 
"To Mrs. Sarah Townsend, Bedford." 

He died September isth, 1792. — Issue, Sarah, 
George, Richard, William, James. 

Saialt was born December iSth, 1779, and was 
married, June i6th, 1800, to Joseph Thorn, who 
was born June 3d, 1778. She died January 8th, 
1827; her husband, December 22d, i860. — Issue, 
Samuel T., Edgar, Sidmon, Mary A., Sarah H., 
Anne, Priscilla F. Samuel T. died in infancy. 
Edgar married, first, Jane Thurston. February 2d, 
1825 ; and, secondly, Eliza Smith, November i8th, 
1830. Sidmon married, first, Sarah E. Rowe ; 
secondly, Mary A. Titus. Mary A. married 
Chauncey Knapp. 

George was born January 9th, 1783, and died 
without children, April 8th, 1816. 

Richard was born July ist, 1785, and died Feb- 
ruary 20tli, 1809, unmarried. 

Samuel was born October isih, 1787. He was 
called William until his father's death, when his 
name was changed to Samuel. He was married 
December 7th, 1809, to Phebe Adee, who was 
born April 3d, 1791. He died May 7th, 1826. — 
Issue, Sarah A., Edwin, Abigail, Richard H., Gil- 
bert R., Samuel. Edwin married Mary A. Goss ; 
Richard married Mary Anne Bowen; Samuel 
married Jane E. Drury. 

James was born June 25th, 1791, and was mar- 
ried, April 4th, 181 1, to Guilielma Adee, who was 
born April 12th, 1795. — Issue. Arthur H., Will- 
iam .\. Arthur H. married Anne Loring, Janu- 
ary 31st, 1831, and died December 22d, i860. Will- 
iam A. married Catharine B. McCullough, July 
31st, 1838. 

Temperance was born September 12th, 1748, 
and married Elijah Cock, a merchant in New 
York. She died of the yellow fever, October 8th, 
1794. — Issue, George, Sarah, John, Townsend. 
George and Sarah died young, unmarried. John 
was born June 30th, 17S3, and died unmarried, 
1863. Townsend was born December 13th, 1787, 
and married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Cock. — 
Issue, Mary, Isaac, William. 

Richard was born June 26th, 1751. He mar- ' 
ried Abigail, daughter of Mary 'Townsend and 
William Willis (see Mary, of Ruemourn, Chap. 
VI.), in 1775. He died December 23d, 1813. — Is- 
sue, Rosannah; born December 26th, 1777; died 
unmarried. 

John was born September 8th, 1757, and was 
married, November 4th, 1779, to Sarah, daughter 
of Mercy Townsend and Daniel Birdsall (see 



92 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



Mercy, of Samuel, Chap. VII.), who was born 
November 20th, 1759. He was in New Yort^ 
August, 1776, being nineteen years old, was called 
out on the approach of the enemy, and was in 
the battle of Flatbush. Upon the retreat of the 
Americans, those so called out were disbanded 
on the heights, near what is now the corner of 
Grand street and East Broadway. He returned to 
Norwich, and built the house -now owned by 
Jacob Hegeman, but soon moved to Patterson, 
Putnam County. At the time of his death he 
owned a farm near Poughkeepsie. He died Au- 
gust, 1847. His wife died about ten years before. 
They were buried in the graveyard belonging to 
Friends at Poughkeepsie. — Issue, Samuel, Daniel, 
John, Richard, Isaac, Susan. Richard and Isaac 
died unmarried. 

Samuel was born September l8th, 1780. and 
was married, December 5th, 1S05, to Betsey Irish. 
He is still living (1864) in Auburn. — Issue, Will- 
iam. John, Sarah, Eliza, Edward, Mary. 

Daniel was born August 5th, 1784, and married 
Betsey Hornback. He died August 17th, 1825.— 
Issue, Hannah Maria, Henry, and Susan. The 
first two died unmarried. Susan married Hiram 
Fisher. 

John was born December 25th, 1786, and was 
married, April 25th, 1815, to Maria, daugliter of 
William Durell, a noted publisher in New York 
between 1800 and 1812. — Issue, Maria, Sarah, 
Eliza, Julia, Richard Henry Lee, Carnot, Alfred, 
and Walter. Maria married P. B. Connolly. 
Sarah married J.I. P. Dayton. Eliza married 
James M. Cromwell. Julia married James M. 
Valentine. Richard Henry Lee married Adeline 
Allen. 

George was born June 28th, 1760, and was 
married, October 25th, 1798, to Phebe, daughter 
of Jacob Willets. He died November loth, 1832. 
— Issue, Anne, Mary, and George. 

Anne married Jesse Hendrickson. She died 
January 4th, i860. — Issue, Daniel, Townsend, 
Mary, and Sarah. Sarah married John Vernon. 

Mary married Obadiah Titus, of Duchess 
County. — Issue, Edward, Phebe, Emily, George, 
Kate, Harriet, Hannah, and Helen. Emily mar- 
ried William Ketchum. Phebe married James 
Underbill. Kate married Benjamin Broas. Har- 
riet married Andrew Provost. George married 
Susan Green. 

George married Sarah Tracy, March 26th, 1846. 
He died January 1st, 1864, in Illinois. — Issue, 
Sarah and George. 

Thomas was born September 25th, 1763, and 
married Sarah Downing, September 20th, 1790. 
He died January 12th, 1839. — Issue, Mary, 
Temperance, Phebe. George, and John. 

il/arv was born October 29th, 1792, and mar- 
ried Griffin Green, September 23d, 1809, She 
died August 20th, 1852.— Issue, Sarah A., George 
T., Thomas T., John T., Temperance, Mary E., 
Caroline T., William, and Anna L. Sarah mar- 
ried Josiah F. Wetmore. and died February, 1863. 
James T. married Mary A. Kaufifman. George 
married, first, Agnes Selcreg; and, second, Eliza- 
beth Selcreg. Thomas T. married Catharine C. 



Graham. Temperance died young. Mary E. mar- 
ried Charles H. Lyman. William died young. 
Caroline married James Gaunt, who died March 
9th, 1859. William died young. 

Temfcrance was born February 14th, 1796, and 
died unmarried, July i8th, 1841. 

Phebe was born November 13th, 1798, and mar- 
ried Samuel Green, January 14th. 1819. — Issue, 
John H., Benjamin M., and Samuel. John H. 
married Phebe A. Downing. Samuel married 
Phebe A. Downing, a cousin of his brother's 
wife. 

George was born September 7th, 1800, and mar- 
ried Betsey, daughter of Walter Franklin, April 
iSth, 1832. (See Letitia, of Gideon Wright, Chap. 
V.) 

John was born March nth, 1802, and married 
Jemima Knapp, January 2d, 1834. — Issue, Mary 
K., Georgiana E., Sarah F., Josephine, and Anna 
M. Mary died young. 

Phebe w-as born October 6th, 1769, and mar- 
ried Moses Downing. — Issue, Silas, Rosannah, 
James, Samuel, Henry, Mary A., Sally A., and 
Townsend. Silas married Mary Hyatt, March 
22d, 1846. 

Rosannah married Elijah Townsend (see 
Elijah, of Elijah, Chap. VI.). She died, 1862. 

James married Maria Philips, October, 1S27. — 
Issue, Phebe, Sarah, and Silas. 

Townsend married Eliza Mitchell, September 
Sth, 1833. — Issue, Henry A., Phebe, Mitchell, and 
Mary. 

SAMUEL, SON OF GEORGE ist. 

Was born 1692. He married Sarah, daughter of 
Dr. Robert Cooper, son of Simon Cooper, "Chir- 
urgeon," the first physician in Oyster Bay. In 
1742 he sold the homestead in South street, re- 
serving the graveyard for the use of his family 
and relations forever. He then settled on the 
place now owned by the heirs of James Town- 
send (his great-grandson) at the steamboat dock. 
Dr. Cooper had lived on the south side of the 
street, and his widow left the place to her grand- 
sons Samuel and Daniel, sons of Samuel Town- 
send. He owned a large tract at Yellow Coats, 
where his son Joseph settled. He died February 
24th, 1747, and his wife, March 3d, 1751. They 
were buried on Fort Hill. — Issue, Samuel, Daniel, 
Phebe, Sarah, i\Iercy, and Joseph. Of Sarah we 
know nothing. Daniel was born May I2th, 1721 ; 
died unmarried, February 27th, 1751. 

SAMUEL was born July 7th, 1717. His first 
wife was Elizabeth Colwell, who died January 
31st, 1759. The second was Meribah Allen, who 
died November 7th, 1827, aged ninety-one years. 
He lived on the place at the steamboat wharf, 
but in the latter part of his life exchanged it with 
his nephew Joseph for the place at Yellow Coats, 
upon which his son Abrahatji now lives. He 
died June 22d, 1801. — Issue, Samuel, William, 
Elizabeth, George. Abraham, and Mary. Samuel, 
son of the first wife, died unmarried, October Sth, 
1801. 

William was born February nth, 1763, and 



93 



TO W N SEND — TOWNSMEN D 



married Elizabeth Latting. He died February 
13th, 1833. 

Elizabeth was born November 17th, 1765, and 
died unmarried, 1820. 

George was born December 12th, 1768, and died 
unmarried, November 24th, 1853. 

Abraham was born April i6th, 1773. He mar- 
ried Sarah Sands, and is now (1864) an active 
man, in perfect possession of his mental faculties, 
and, except the partial loss of hearipg, showing 
no signs of extreme age, and may be seen, even 
in very cold weather, actively employed in the 
open air. — Issue, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Isaac, 
and Rebecca. 

PHEBE married Job Weeks. — Issue, Rachel 
and Phebe. 

Rachel married, first, Nicholas Wright; second, 
Albert Albertson. 

Phebe married Israel Townsend. (See Israel, 
of John, Chap. XI.) 

MERCY was born November 30th, 1730, and 
married Daniel Birdsall. — Issue, Samuel, Daniel, 
William, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, and Cynthia. 

Sarah was born November 20th, 1759, and was 
married, 1779, to John Townsend. (See John, of 
George of Nonvich, Chap. VII.) 

Hannah was born June 22d, 1762, and married 
Isaac Hasbrouck, of Newburgh. Her son Eli 
now owns the house which was Washington's 
Head-quarters. 

Mercy was born April 9th, 1769, and married 
Thomas Palmer. — Issue, Cynthia and Hannah. 

Cynthia was born November 24th, 1771, and 
married John R. Philips, of Fishkill. 

JOSEPH was bom February 17th, 1 728, and 
married, first, Hannah Youngs, who died in 1761 ; 
and secondly, Margaret Weeks, in 1763. He lived 
at Yellow Coats, on the place now belonging to 
Wliitehead Van Wyck. He died in 1812. and was 
buried on Fort Hill. — Issue, by the first wife, 
Daniel, Sarah, and Joseph. 

Daniel Townsend, born Oct. 5, 1753; died 
March 16, 1850; married Sarah Latten, born 
March 22, 1762; died Oct. 4, 1828. — Issue, Anna, 
born Aug. 29, 1787, died Oct. 11, 1793; Isaac, born 
Sept. 14. 1789, died Sept. 10, 1793; Hannah, born 
Aug. 16, 1794, died April 21, 1877; Anna, born 
July 29, 1796, died Jan. I, 1880, and Rebecca, born 
July II, 1798, died Jan. 18, 1884. Hannah mar- 
ried Jacob Polhemus. No issue. Anna, who 
married William Bragaw Jan. 6, 1820, had issue : 
Daniel Townsend. born April 23. 1822, died April 
9, 1901 ; Eliza, born Feb. 27, 1824, died May 3, 
1827; Richard, born July 10, 1826, died Feb. 17, 
1894; Thomas Liidlam, born Dec. 28, i828r died 
April 22, 1902; Wm. Edward, born Dec. 8, 1830; 
Sarah Townsend, born Aug. 15, 1833 ; Elias 
Townsend, born Jan. 8, 1836, and John Gold- 
smith, born June 22, 1838. Elias Townsend Bra- 
gaw, a prominent broker in N. Y. City, now re- 
tired and living on his place in New London, 
Conn., married Mary E. Snyder, of N. Y. C— Issue, 
Griswold, born Aug. 23, 1865. Griswold married 
Ida W. Howard.— Issue, Griswold Le Roy, died 
in infancy; Chester Griswold, born June 2. 1899; 
Marion Howard, born Nov. 19, 1900, and Elias 



Townsend, born June 17, 1904. Sarah Townsend 
Bragaw married Edward H. Townsend, of Au- 
burn, N. Y. He was born Feb. 15, 1824, died Dec. 
7, 1908. — Issue, Robert Nelson, born March 25, 
1863. Frank Bragaw, born Jan. 30, 1868, married 
Belle Dillingham. — Issue, Ruth Bragaw, born 
Sept. 18, 1893. 

Sarah married William McCoun. — Issue, Han- 
nah, Phebe, William T., Daniel, Sydney, and 
Margery. 

Joseph married Hannah Youngs. — Issue, James, 
Judith, Daniel, and Mary A. 

James married Margaret Underbill. — Issue, 
James E., Joseph, Daniel, Marianna, and Sus.in. 

Judith married James Fleet. — Issue, John, Jo- 
seph, Arnold. John married Mary Bates. Joseph 
married Susannah Underbill. Arnold married 
Maria Seaman. 

Daniel married Sarah Titus. — Issue, John J., 
Edward. Hannah Marie. The last died young, 
unmarried. John J. married Catherine R. Bron- 
son. Edward married Belinda Rockwell. 

Mary A. married Daniel Underbill. — Issue, Su- 
sannah, Sarah, James, Judith. Joseph, Daniel, 
Mary, John, Albert, Hannah, Francis, and Abi- 
gail. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

DANIEL, SON OF JOHN 1ST, 

Lived on the place which he inherited, south of 
the homestead, to which he added that of his 
brother James, the two making the place now 
belonging to the family of T. W. Burtis. He 
married Susannah, daughter of Samuel Furman, 
and died July 2d, 1702. — Issue, Robert and Daniel. 

Of Daniel, the only mention we find is in a 
deed of gift, from Robert to him. 

ROBERT married Judiah , and lived on 

the homestead until 1720, when he exchanged it 
with Caleb Coles for land at Duck Pond, where 
he went to live. His sons, Benjamin, Robert, 
Uriah, and Daniel, all removed to the Oblong, 
Duchess County, excepting LViah, where we lose 
sight of them. They sold the land at Duck Pond, 
given to them by their father, to Joshua Town- 
send, and it formed a part of the farm left by 
Noah to his son. 

URIAH married . — Issue, Moses, who 

married Dcbora Pinkney. — Issue, Frederick Pink- 
ney, who married Polly Campbell ; Edmund, who 
married Caroline Schofield ; Stephen, who married 

Goule ; Anna M., who married Jason Gil- 

lett; Elizabeth, who married Cummings; 

Jane, who married Philo Galpin ; Laura M., who 
married Warner Shuart ; Sussanna, who married 

Forsyth. Frederick Pinkney and Polly 

Campbell had issue, Ranson and Nelson Town- 
send. 

RANSON married Juliette Leland.— Issue, 
Juliaetta Alhina. who married John B. Eldert, and 
resides at Detroit, Michigan. Perry L., who mar- 
ried Edith Shanklin, and resides at Ann Arbor, 
Michigan. Emory, who married Annie L. Fair- 



94 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



man.— Issue, Ka!herine Humphrey, Juliaette Le- 
land and Richard Emory. 

NELSON married Mary Barker.— Isbuc, l^rank 
(at present residing at Chicago, 111.), Adahne and 

^"Hon Emory Townsend graduated as a lawyer 
from tile University of Michigan, and resides with 
his family at Saginaw. He is regarded as one of 
the best esteemed and most representative men ot 
the State of Michigan. He has served it as Sena- 
tor, as well as in other public capacities, and m 
this connection, as well as in the practice of his 
profession, has received the highest testimonials 
endorsing his ability, integrity and energy from 
Hon R. M. Montgomery, Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Court of Lansing; Hon. A. 1. Bliss, 
Governor of Michigan; Hon. Horace M. Oren, 
Attorney-General, of Michigan; "on Edwin A. 
Wildey, Commisioner State Land Otfice, Michi- 
gan; Hon. Perry F. Powers, Auditor General, 
Lansing; Hon. Deles Fall, Superintendent Pub- 
he Insfruction, Lansing, and Hons B. A. Snow 
and E. L. Beach, Circuit Judges of S-aginaw. 

JOSEPH TOWNSEND, of Westchester, 
NY descended from the grandson of Daniel 
son of John ist, of Oyster Bay, L.L, married 
__ --Issue, Joseph, who married Chariot e 
Purdy.'— Issue, Thomas, Smith, James, Joseph, 
Elizabeth, Elmira and Charlotte 

Mr Townsend resided in the City of New York 
where he owned the property at Eighth S rcet 
and Astor Place, which he sold about 1840 and re- 
moved with his family to New Jersey, where he 
curchased a tract of land in Bergen County 
Xt was then known as the "Village o English 
Neighborhood." This land extended from tie 
Hudson back to the Hackensack River O" it he 
collected cattle he obtained throughout the coun- 
try, from whence they were brought to New \ork 
City He formed a partnership with Daniel Drew 
(who in 1820. married Roxanna Mead, whose 
aunt Was married to Gilbert Townsend), and to- 
gether they established a ferry across the Hudson 
River for the transportation of the cattle, known 
as "Bull's Ferry," located opposite looth street, 

N. Y. C. , ~, 

THOMAS married .—Issue, Thomas, 

married Marv Ann Hollyer.-Issue, Frances Isa- 
belle, Sarah Alice, Clinton Hollyer and Minnie 
Robinson. Sarah Alice married Harold Raymond 
Bavley, June 20, 1906, and resides m Brooklyn, 
N Y— Is-^ue. George Townsend, born May 22, 
1007 Mr. Townsend is in business in New York 
City'with James Beggs & Co., large manufacturers 
of machinery, and resides with his family at 
Atlienis N T 

henry' MEAD TOWNSEND (same descent 
as Joseph of Westchester), born April 12, 1856, 
at Fair View. Bergen County, N. J., married 

Issue, Clarence, born Dec. S, 1H80, at 

East New Durham, N. J., married T;— 'f "^' 

Edward Harry, born July 19, 1908, at Stamford, 

NY T 

JAMES TOWNSEND (same descent as Jo- 
seph of Westchester), married -——.-Issiie, 
Margaret, Samuel Bushnell, Elijah, killed m the 



Civil War, Battle of Wilmington, and Reman 
Bangs. J T^ 

Hcman Bangs married Mary Gertrude Downs, 
—Issue, Eugene Morris, Edward, who died m 
infancy, James Henry, Elijah Frost, Charles, Wil- 
liam, Edward, Hemun and Jennie May. 

James Henry married Ella America Helwick.— 
Issue Ella, James Henry, Jr., and Heman Bangs. 
Ella married H. L. Marsh. James Henry, Jr., 
married Minnie Piatt. Heman Bangs decided 
upon a year of travel before settling down with 
his parents at Danbury, Conn. He had been ab- 
sent that length of time, and was within one day s 
journey of his home, where his parents were joy- 
fully awaiting him, when he met a tragic death by 
being thrown under the railway cars. 

Samuel Bushnell (of James), of Hartsdale, 

N. Y., married .—Issue, Joseph, Benjamin, 

Alfred. Euphemie and George H., who is a prac- 
ticing phvsician in Danbury, Conn. Euphemie 
married Dr. J. Alexander Wade, of Danbury, 
Conn. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HENRY IST 

Must have settled in Ovster Bay before Septem- 
ber i6th, 1661, as the Mill Grant bears that date, 
but he was not admitted as a townsman until the 
4th of November. . ^ , t ■ 

Notwithstanding all he had suffered at Jamaica 
(then called Rusdorp). he seems to have enter- 
tained an affection for tlie place. In 1663, he gave 
a legacy, left by Richard Grassmore to his wife 
and children, to that Town, for the support of 
the poor, of which, Thompson says, that in his 
day the tax-payers were still enjoying the beneht. 
The following is a copy of this deed of gift : 

"Rusdorp, the 25th day of third month, 1663, 
stylo novo. These presents declareth to all people 
and patrons whom it may concern, that I, Henry 
Townsend, of Oyster Bay, late of Rusdorp, m 
the province of New Netherlands, being approved 
of bv the Court of Rusdorp, aforesaid, tP be the 
lawful executor of Richard Grassmore deceased, 
late inhabitant of the said Rusdorp; I say, ap- 
proved of by the Court, being made by the last 
will and t»stament of the said Richard Grassmore, 
to be his lawful executor, as stated by the Court 
aforesaid, from the virtue, right, and POwer, 1 
received in and by the will of the deceased, Rich- 
ard Grassmore, aforesaid; 

'T do fully and freely, by these presents, give 
and bequeath all my right, of all the housing and 
lands of the said Richard Grassmore, that he had 
in the above-said Town, with the meadows and 
accommodations, with all privileges and appur- 
tenances belonging thereunto, that was h,s or 
did in any way belong to him, with all the debts 
that was due from any inhabitant, iti the juris- 
diction of the New Netherlands; and also what 
is due from Captain Thomas MiUett, merchant, 
for the house, his son bought of the deceased, 

95 



TO W NSEND — TOWNSMEN D 



Richard Grassmore; and what is also due from 
John Barker, butcher or grazier, or any other, 
within the jurisdiction aforesaid. I say, I do 
give and bequeath, all my right, iu money and 
lands, aforesaid, I say unto the poor, viz., poor 
widows and children, persons blind, or lame, or 
aged, that are unable to get their living, or any 
that shall suffer by fire, whose necessity shall 
call for relief, or any other of the like nature, 
within the said Town. And the Town, afore- 
said, shall annually make choice of two men, 
which shall have the ordering and disposing of 
the said moneys, during their year, for the use 
aforesaid, and then to give an account to the 
Town, of their proceedings. Those two men, 
aforesaid, shall have liberty to make sale of the 
lot and accommodations, and also to collect the 
debts, and with the money, to buy marcs or cows, 
which may be for a stock for the use of the 
poor, as aforesaid; and that these cattle or mares 
shall be put out, so that increase may arise, out 
of which, as aforesaid, the poor may be relieved; 
and the principal shall be reserved for a stock, 
for the use of the poor of the Town, aforesaid, 
forever. And whereas, the said Richard Grass- 
more did give the said land and moneys unto my 
wife and children, I do by these presents, to pre- 
vent the suffering wrong, give unto my wife and 
children, my house and orchard, with my house 
lot and half my accommodations, and half ray 
meadow, in the Town of Rusdorp, and so by 
these presents, take off their rights, in the said 
lands and moneys. I say, I, the said Henry 
Townsend, do for myself, my heirs, executors, 
or assigns, fully and freely, make over, give, and 
bequeath, all my right, title, and interest in the 
said lands and moneys, unto the poor of the 
Town aforesaid, to enjoy and possess forever, as 
is before jxpressed. That this is my act and 
deed, I certify, by subscribing my hand, the day 
and date above written, namely the 2Sth of the 
third month, anno 1663, stylo novo. 

"Henry Townsend." 

Thompson says that, beside the real estate, this 
gilt included £176 in money. When he settled in 
Oyster Bay, he bought or built a house on the 
Main street, one homestead being between that 
and Quogue Lane. He seems to have had occu- 
pation enough for two or three men. Beside the 
grist and saw mills he managed, he held the 
office of Town-Clerk, made many surveys, and 
was employed, with his nephew Thomas, in all 
public business, such as adjusting boundories, pro- 
curing patents, and buying lands of the Indians. 
He assisted his sisters-in-law, the widows of John 
and Richard, in the settlement of theii- husbands' 
estates, and was executor and overseer (as they 
called persons appointed to assist an executrix) 
to several wills, and was one of those appointed 
by Captain John Underbill, to see that his chil- 
dren were not wronged, in case his widow mar- 
ried again. While thus active for the benefit, 
pub ic and private, of his neighbors, he was not 
negligent of his own affairs. The conveyances to 
and from him are innumerable. He was endeav- 



oring to bring his property into a more compact 
form by sales and exchanges, and made, besides 
gifts to all his children. In 1683, he had six 
acres laid out to him, on the hill, upon which 
he built, and gave his old homestead to Henry. 
In 1668, he gave the mill, or three-fourths of it, 
to his sons, Henry and John; the other quarter 
he gave to Rose, wife of Joseph Dickenson, who 
sold to her brothers, reserving one-fourth of the 
toll for himself and wife, during their lives 
Henry sold his share to John. His son, Henry 
3d, bought it again, but finally John's son, Jotham, 
bought It from Henry's sons, Henry and Absalom. 
Henry ist gave land also to his three daughters. 
His was indeed a most active old age, and, it is 
pleasant to think, after all the storms and' con- 
tentions of his youth, a peaceful one. He died 
between February 6th and March 30th, 1695, when 
he must have been a very old man. He was bur- 
ied on Mill Hill, where a rough stone, marked 
H. T., shows his grave. His wife survived him 
She was Anne, daughter of Robert Coles.— Issue, 
Henry, John, Rose, Susannah, Mary, Elizabeth, 
Robert. Elizabeth died unmarried, September 
13th, 1680. Susannah married Aaron Furman, 
Jr. She had two sons, Aaron and Jacob, who 
moved to New Jersey and Westchester, and noth- 
ing more is known of them. 

JOHN TOWNSEND, a Quaker, descended 
from Henry 1st, was master of a very fine school 

for boys on Long Island. He married .— 

Issue, Daniel. Daniel married Susanna Hoogland, 
of New York City, had issue, Emma and Charles 
A. Townsend, who resided in Brooklyn, N Y 
for forty years. In 1853 he married .lizabeth 
Cornell Lovett, and had issue Alice an i Emma 
Townsend, the latter deceased. Alice married 
Frederick A. Abercrombie Miller in 18! ' —Issue 
Edith, Alice de Peyster and Charles T. Aber- 
crombie Miller. 



CHAPTER X. 

HENRY, SON OF HENRY IST, 

According to Thompson, married Deborah, daugh- 
ter of Captain John Underbill. He does not ap- 
pear on the Records, except in the transfer of 
property. Nor is it known when he died, but it 
must have been before 1703. — Issue, Henry, Rob- 
ert, and a daughter, who was married (Dr. P. 
Townsend says) to one dI tlie Ludlams, of Hog 
Island. 

Henry 3d married Eliphal, daughter of his 
aunt, Mary Townsend, and John Wright. At the 
death of his uncle. Mill John, he was elected 
Surveyor. He appears to have been a young man 
of promise, prominent for his years, judicious and 
prudent in the management of his own affairs. 
He bought again several pieces of valuable prop- 
erty sold by his father. Had his life been pro- 
longed, he would probably have been among the 
most prosperous and influential of his family. 
Thompson says, he died in 1709. — Issue, Henry 
and Absalom. 

Henry 4th married Elizabeth Titus, a beautiful 



96 





# 





MKS. KOXllALL T. KEENE. 

(Mary B. Lawn-nc- Whit.-.) 
" Stont: Housf." Hay Sidt.-, L. I. 



MKS. I'KANK THOMAS WOODBUKV. 

(C.irolino Drak*- TtAviisi-nd Kri-mont.) 

Ni'w York City and U. S. Army. 



r.K \I)I.I-:V MAKTIN. 
Luiiduii. Etik'laiid. 



KKEDKKICK TOWNSKNU MAKTIN. 
N'-\v \'ork City. 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Quakeress. He removed to Chester, Orange 
County. — Issue, Henry, Nicholas, Peter, Phebe, 
Elizabeth, Martha, and Absalom. 

Henry Sth was born in 1725, and married Anne 
Wright. He died iVIarch 2t>th, 1803. His wife 
died September 17th, 1825, aged 90 years. — Issue, 
Betsey, Henry, Zebulon, Noah, Phebe, and 
Charles. 

Charles died unmarried, of yellow fever, on 
Staten Island, September iSth, 1799. 

Betsey married, first, Lewis Carpenter. — Issue, 
Townsend, Thomas, and Henry. Second, Robert 
Little. — Issue, Phebe, Elizabeth, and Martha. 

Phebe married Wright, and is one of the 

ladies to whom this Memorial is dedicated. 
Martha married Henry Titus. — Issue, two sons 
and one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Joshua 
T. Cromwell. Her daughter Sarah married 
Charles H. Townsend, and is the person from 
whom we obtained the genealogy of this branch of 
the family. 

Henry 6th married Mary Bennett. — Issue, Isaiah, 
John, Mary A., Samuel, William, Peter A., Han- 
nah, Charles, and Noah. Peter, Charles, and 
Noah, died unmarried. 

Isaiah married Hannah, daughter of Solomon 
Townsend (see Solomon, of Samuel, Chap. III.). 
He and his brother John were for many years 
among the most prominent men in Albany, both 
as merchants and politicians. — Issue, Isaiah, An- 
na, Robert, Franklin, Howard, Frederick, and 
Mary. Isaiah married Harriet, daughter of his 
uncle Samuel Townsend. Anna married Henry 
Hull Martin, of Albany, N. Y. — Issue, Henry H., 
Bradley, born Dec. 18, 1841, Frederick Townsend, 
Howard Townsend and Alice. Bradley Martin 
married Cornelia Sherman. — Issue, Bradley, Jr., 
capitalist, born July 6th, 1873, grad. Christ Churcli, 
Oxford, Eng., B.A., 1894, and Harvard Law 
School, LL.B., 1897, married at Beverley Castle, 
Scotland, Nov. 2d, 1904, Helen Margaretten 
Phipps. — Issue, Henry Bradley, born March 27. 
igo6, director of several companies and member 
of many clubs; residing in N. Y. City; are prom- 
inent socially. Cornelia, daughter of Bradley Mar- 
tin, married Earl Craven. The Earl and Countess 
Craven reside at Chesterfield Gardens, Mayfair, 
London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Martin, 
before their daughter's marriage, gave most 
notable entertainments in their N. Y. mansion, 
but now reside with Countess Craven in London. 
Mr. Martin recalls his great-uncle Dr. Peter 
Townsend, his grandmother's brother, who died 
in New York City at the old home in State Street 
on Battery. He says when he visited the old 
Townsend Mansion at Albany he used to play 
the piano for him, the favorite piece representing 
a great battle, through the power of music. He 
would also tell him "bloody stories." Frederick 
Townsend Martin and Howard Townsend ar.e 
unmarried. The former, especially, is noted for 
the number and brilliancy of the entertainments 
of which he is host, on both sides of the Atlantic. 
He aims to bring the social, theatrical, and lit- 
erary world agreeably together, and is interested as 
•well in many charities. It gives him pleasure to 



refer lo his great-grandfather, Solomon Townsend, 
who lived in the State Street Mansion on Battery, 
N. Y. City, who was as well a great entertainer in 
the days of Alexander Hamilton. Alice, daughter 
of Henry and Anna (Townsend) Martin, mar- 
ried Julicn Tappan Davies, born Sept. 25, 1845, 
N. Y. City, a graduate of many schools and of 
Columbia College, and Columbia College Law 
School; a man of attainments, a brilliant lawyer, 
trustee of business corporations, a member of 
many clubs, and of great social prominence, April 
22d, 1869, Mrs. Davies deceased. — Issue, Julien 
Townsend married Marie R. de Garmendia, resid- 
ing at W. Islip, L. I. Ethel married Archibald G. 
Thatcher, residing in New York City. Frederick 
Martin and Cornelia Sherman, residing with their 
father in New York City. Robert, Captain, in the 
U. S. Navy married Harriet Monroe. Franklin, 
Adjutant General S. N. Y., married Anna King. 
Howard, prominent physician, Albany, married 
Justina Van Rensalear. — Issue, Howard Towns- 
end, son of Dr. Howard Townsend, is a leading 
member of the New York bar. Frederick, Ad- 
jutant General S. N. Y., founded Camp Towns- 
end at Peekskill, married Sarah Rathbone. Mary 
married General William H. Walker, of the 
Southern Army, who was killed at Atlanta, Ga. 

John married Abby Spencer. — Issue, Theodore, 
John, Edward, Laura, Abby, Julia, and Mary A. 

Samuel married Mary, daughter of William 
Townsend, of Cornwall. (See William, of 
Thomas, Chap. XVII.) 

Mary married Andrew Cock. 

Hannah married Dr. Elisha Hedges. 

Zebulon, of Henry 5th, married Anna Cock. He 
died October 4th, 1836; his wife, March 3d. 1851, 
aged 88 years. — Issue, Elizabeth, Mary, Phebe, 
Charles, and Henry. 

Elizabeth was born May 25th, 1794, and mar- 
ried Daniel Cromwell. — Issue, Charlotte, Eliza- 
beth, Henry, Edward and Daniel. Elizabeth mar- 
ried Thomas Woodward. Henry married Sarah 
Bowne. Edward married Martha Birdsall. Dan- 
iel died unmarried. 

Mary was born June 7th. 1796, and married 
David Ford. — Issue, Elizabeth, Phebe, Margaret 
Harriet, Charles, John, Benjamin, William, Henry, 
David, and Townsend. 

Phebe was born December 15th, 1797, and mar- 
ried Israel Green. — Issue, Anne, Charles, Towns- 
end, William, Henry, Caroline, and Fanny. 
Townsend and Henry died unmarried. 

Charles was born January i6tli, 1800, and mar- 
ried Margaret Conklin. He died September 24th, 
'839. — Issue, Sally A., Noah, William, and Har- 
riet. All except Noah died young. 

Henry was born May 9th, 1S03, and married 
Harriet Conklin. He died Scptemljer 29th, 1849. 
tissue, Charles Henry, Margaret, Mary, and Ed- 
ward. All died young but Charles H., who mar- 
ried Sarah Cromwell, daughter of Joshua Titus 
Cromwell and Elizabeth Little, December 28th, 
1858. — Issue, Harriet Conklin, Willet R,, who 
died in infancy, Elizabeth Little, Margaret Conk- 
lin, and Rosamond Burphalter. Harriet Conklin 
married William Mackintosh, of Buffalo, N. Y., 

97 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



April 23. 1885. — Issue, Walter Townsend, Crom- 
well, and Rosamond. Margaret mirried Philip 
Sydney Westcott, April 29th, 1905. Charles Henry 
Townsend died 1905 and his wife Sarah Crom- 
well in 1907. Mr. Townsend's grandfather, Zeb- 
ulon Townsend, came to Highland iMills, N. Y., 
in 1804, purchasing the large farming lands and 
homestead on which Charles Hy. lived and died. 
He continued the cultivation of the lands ; kept 
the mill going, which was built in 1756, until it 
burned in 1873. He was also postmaster at 
Highland Mills for many years. The four 
daughters who survive him are the last of his 
branch of the family, three of whom continue to 
live in the old homestead at Highland Mills. 

Noah, of Henry 5th, married Letty Conklin. 
He left no children. 

Phchc, of Henry Sth, married William Jackson, 
of Philadelphia. — Issue. William and Isaac. The 
last is professor in Union College, Schenectady. 

Nicholas married Philadelphia Doughty. — Is- 
sue, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. 

Hannah married Jacob Cock. 

Elizabeth married James Hallock. 

Mary married Cock. 

Peter married Hannah Hawxhurst. He was 
very successfully employed in the manufacture of 
iron, and made the chain that was stretched across 
the North River in the Revolution. — Issue, Anne, 
William, Peter, Isaac, and Sarah. 

Anne married Solomon Townsend. (See Sol- 
omon, of Samuel, Chap. III.) 

VVilUam married Elizabeth Franklin. 

Isaae married Elizabeth Jackson. 

Sarah married Dr. Anthony Davis. — Issue, 
William Henry, born January ist, 181 1, married 
Emily Talman, daughter of James Townsend Tal- 
man, of New York City, March 3d, 1825. He 
died May, 1874. They were cousins, descended 
from Townsends on both sides. — Issue, Tozoisend 
Davis, who became member of the firm of Smith 
Davis & Co., Marine & Fire Underwriters, of 
Buffalo, N. Y. He married Annie Carter Knowl- 
ton, and died September 30th. 1899. — Issue, Emily 
Knowlton, Henry Townsend, and William Henry. 
Henry Townsend, or, as known, H. Townsend 
Davis, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., June 8, 1867, 
grad. at Harvard College 1800, became a member 
of his father's firm, Smith-Davis & Co., in Buf- 
falo, and later a member of the firm of E. F. 
Hutton & Co., Bankers, N. Y. C, also a member 
of the N. Y. Stock Exchange. He married, Jan- 
uary 9th, 1900, Henrietta Poole, daughter of Dr. 
Parker A. Poole. No issue. Mr. Davis has re- 
signed from the firm of E. F. Hutton & Co.. and 
resides at his place, "Tower Hall," Mahwah, N. 
J._ He is a member of many clubs, and this 
winter is touring Cuba. 

Peter married Alice Cornell. — Issue, William 
H., Peter, Isaac, Robert C, Elizabeth A., and 
George C. William married Sarah A. Austin. 
Peter married Caroline Parish. Isaac married 
Mary Austen. He was a very public-spirited man 
and did much towards gaining improvements for 
Blackwell's and Randall's islands. — Issue, Amy 
Cornell, Elizabeth Austen, Sarah Helen, Isaac 



and Mary Alice. Amy Cornell, unmarried, re- 
sides in the family mansion, Fifth Avenue, N. 
Y. C. Elizabeth Austen married George H. Bend. 
— Issue, Amy and Beatrice. Amy married Cort- 

landt Field Bishop — Issue, . They reside in 

N. Y. C. Mr. Bishop is one of America's fore- 
most promoters of Aeronautics. He has served 
two terms as President of the 'Aero Club of 
America," and has lately returned with his family 
from a sojourn in France to take the presidency 
a third time at the unanimous request of the 
members and directors, as his knowledge of 
aeronautic affairs here and abroad is extensive. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are very prominent socially. 
Sarah Helen married Buchanan Winlhrop. — Issue, 
Henry Rogers and Marie. They reside in N. Y. 
City. Henry Rogers, born July 2d. 1876, is a mem- 
ber of the firm of Harris, Winthrop & Co., of 
New York City. He married Alice Babcock, 
daughter of Henry D. Babcock, October 3d, 1905. 
— Issue, Alice, born October 23d, 1908. They are 
very prominent socially. Mr. Winthrop is one of 
the founders and patrons of "The New Theatre," 
which is designed to raise the standard of Art 
in America. Isaac. Mary Alice, married Charles 
Adams Sackett, of Providence, R. I., and they 
reside and are very prominent socially at their 
place, "Miramir," New London, Conn. — Issue, 
Isaac Townsend, . who died. Austen Townsend, 
who grad. at Yale College, 1907, and Audrey 
Townsend. It is told that Lafayette scratched 
lines on one of the window panes of the house 
of the late Edward Townsend, of Oyster Bay, 
"To Audrey's Eyes." Robert C married Mary 
Whittemore. Elizabeth A. married John H. 
Austin. 

Phebe married Joseph Lawrence, in 1764. — Is- 
sue, Elizabeth, Henry, Phebe, Richard, and Ef- 
fingham. 

Elizabeth married Silas Titus. 

Henry married Harriet Van Wyck. 

Phebe married Obadiah Townsend. (See 06a- 
diah, of Thomas, Chap. XVII.) 

Lydia married Anthony Franklin. 

Richard married Betsey Franklin. 

Effingham married Anne, daughter of Solomon 
Townsend (see Solomon, of Samuel, Chap. III.). 
— Issue, Townsend, Lydia, Henry, William, Ef- 
fingham, Robert, Mary, Edward, Joseph, Cor- 
nelius, and Hannah. Townsend died unmarried. 
Lydia married, first, Edward N. Lawrence. — Issue, 
Frederick Newbold ; second, Cornelius W. Law- 
rence, a prominent merchant, was Mayor of New 
York City 1834- 1837, and upon his retirement 
from business, the merchants of N. Y. paid a 
glowing tribute through the press upon his fine 
personal qualities and public integrity, tendering 
a great banquet in his honor; signed — Saul Alley, 
G. G. Howland, Preserved Fish, Jacob Harvey, 
Robert B. Minturn, Henry Parish, D. F. Manice, 
William Legget, Silas Brown, John Stewart, Jr., 
Nathaniel Weed, George Sharpe, H. Booraem, 
Reuben Withers, Daniel Trimble, Jacob Kerno- 
chan, Edward Taylor, Isaac S. Hone, Amos Pal- 
mer, Prosper M. Wetmore, Committee on behalf 
Merchants and Citizens of New York City, 






ISAAC TOWNSEND. 
New York City. 



AUDREY TOWXSENI) SACKETT. 
"Mirainir." 



New London, Conn. 



JAMES BLISS TOW.\SEND. 
New York City. 



TO WN SEND — TOWNS H END 



October 2d, 1833. Frederick Nevjbold La-i'- 
rence, at one time President New York Stock 
Exchange, and now President of the Union Club, 
N. Y. C, resides in the old Lawrence Mansion, 
"Stone House," at Bay Side, L. I. He married 
Elizabeth Boyce.— Issue, Lillie. who married 
Major Chas. H. McKinstry, U. S. Army, sta- 
tioned at San Francisco, Cal. Mary, who mar- 
ried, first, Frank Loomis White, of N. Y. C, 
second, Foxhall P. Keene, of N. Y. C— Issue, by 
first marriage, Loomis Lawrence White, who 
married Julia J. Fanshawe, and resides at Red 
Bank, N. J. Elizabeth married J. Henry Alex- 
andre, of N. Y. City. — Issue. Virginia Lawrence, 
Frederick Francis, and Mary Elizabeth. Virginia 
married Louis M. Howland. — Issue. Elizabeth 
Lawrence, Hortense and Nathalie Marie. Mrs. 
Howard deceased. Henry married Fanny Bra- 
shiere. William married, first, Caroline Lawrence, 
second Augusta ilickle.— Issue, Carrie, Andrew, 
Grace, Effingham and William. These married, 
but data cannot be obtained except of Grace, who 
married James Norton Winslow, of Winslow and 
Lanier, bankers, N. Y. C. — Issue, Lawrence 
Lanier. EfUnghani married Jane Osgood. — Issue, 
Annie, Janet, Effingham, Elizabeth and Helen. 
Mary married Andrew H. Mickle, at one time 
Mayor of New York City. — Issue, Annie and 
Janet. Janet married her cousin Effingham Law- 
rence — Issue, Effingham, who married Dorothy J. 
Gookin. Edward married Hannah Mickle. — Issue, 
Julia, Effingham, Mary, and George. 

Elizabeth married John McCoun. They re- 
moved to Troy, where their sons were merchants 
of high standing. — Issue, Townsend, John, Sam- 
uel, William, Richard, Hannah, and Sally. 
Sally married Elisha Tibbits. 
M.^RTHA married Daniel McCoun. — Issue, An- 
nie, Elizabeth, Martha, Daniel, Peter, and Henry. 
Elizabeth married Daniel Jackson. 
Absalom married Helen De Kay. — Issue, Henry 
Robert, Charles. Solomon, Absalom, Fanny, Chris- 
tina, Sarah, Helena, Hannah, and Martha. 

Charles married Maria Fonda. — Issue, John F., 
Helena. Maria, and Sarah. John F. married 
Catharine Douw. Helena married Solomon 
Townsend. (See Solomon, of Solomon, Chap. 
III.) Maria married Maurice Viele. Sarah mar- 
ried Edwin Coles. (See Edwin, of Butler, Chap. 
VII.) 

Solomon married Cannon. 

Helen married Asa Gardiner. 

Hannah married Noyes. 

Martha married Isaac Fonda. 

ABSALOM, SON OF HENRY 3D, 

Married Deborah Weeks. He lived upon the 
place belonging to Mrs. De Kay. His wife died 
the loth of October, 1739; he, February 2d, 1795. 
— Issue, Mary, Philena, Anne and Deborah. 

Mary was born June loth, 1732. and married 
James Wooden, who was bom May 17th, 1726. 
He died March i6th. 1805; she, November 27th, 
1824. — Issue, Absalom, Isaac, Solomon, Judith, 
Elizabeth, James, and Townsend. 

Absalom was bom July nth, 1733; died De- 
cember 13th, 1841. 



Isaac married Sarah Webb, and died December 
3d, 1830. — Issue, Mary, who married Patrick 
Laurie. — Issue, Mary and William. 

Solotnon, born February 8th, 1760; died Feb- 
ruary 23d, 1842. 

Judith, born March 12th, 1762, and married 
Arnold Fleet in 1780. — Issue, Daniel, James, and 
Deborah. Daniel married Rebecca Youngs. 
James married Judith Townsend; (See Judith, 
of Joseph, Chap. VII.) Deborah married John 
Wood. — Issue, William, Judith, John, Arnold, and 
James E. 

Elizabeth, born June 12th, 1766; died September 
20th, 1857. 

James, born April 19th, 1770, and died October 
28th, 1 84 1. 

Tozcnsend. born October 12th, 1772, and died 
of the small-pox, February 15th, 1795. 

Philena was born December 14th, 1734. She 
married, first, Richard Butler; and second, Thom- 
as Alsop, in 1761. — Issue, by her first husband, 
John, William, and Deborah ; by the second, 
Nannie and Richard. John and William died un- 
married. 

Deborah married Thomas Smith, and lived at 
Cove Neck, where her sons now reside. 

Nannie married Joseph White. 

Richard married Judith Parish. — Issue, Nancy, 
who married Joseph Storrs. 

Anne was born November 24th, 1736. She 
married Daniel Parish, and died without children, 
November 29th, 1783. 

ROBERT, SON OF HENRY 2D. 

Received from his father a part of the saw-mill 
at Mill Neck, and land near there, together with 
the house standing upon the bank east of the mill. 
He was a merchant, but not successful, and sold 
most, if not all, of his property there during his 
life. He was elected for many successive years 
to take charge of intestate estates. He had a 
son Henry, of whom we know only the name. 
Dr. P. Townsend says that about iSoo a descend- 
ant of his (he does not say in what generation), 
named Henry, kept a school in New York, whose 
son John was a midshipman, and died on the 
coast of Africa. 



CHAPTER XL 

JOHN, SON OF henry 1ST. 

It is not known who his first wife was, 
except that her name was Johannah. She 
died October 6th, 1680. His second wife 
was Esther Smith. He seems to have had 
much of the tact and talent of the family, 
in those days, for public affairs. He was one of 
the Town Surveyors from 1686 until his death, 
a period of nineteen years. At almost every 
Town Meeting, John Townsend at Mill is called 
on to perform some service for the public. He 
died May 9th, 1705. His widow lived until I74() 
certainly, probably longer. .According to the 
traditions preserved by Dr. P. Townsend, and cor- 
roborated by the Town Records, she must have 
been a woman of remarkable energy and business 



f)0 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



talent. Dr. Townsend says she fitted out a sloop 
for a trading voyage to Ocracoke Inlet, N. C, 
and started off with her son Micajah and her 
daugliter Zeruiah. The cargo being principally 
cider, the sloop was nicknamed the Cider-Tub 
by the people of the village. The doctor does 
not tell us the result of the speculation, further 
than that Dr. Parish (who was, or had been, 
a surgeon in the Royal Navy) was of the party, 
and made himself so agreeable and useful that 
he captivated Zeruiah, who married him. He tells 
us, however, that Esther was a short, stout wom- 
an. John at Mill had issue, by his first wifL-, 
Hannah ; by the second, Hetty, Sarah, Zeruiah, 
Jothani, Micajah, Jonadab, and John. Of Sarah 
we only know that she married Edmond Wright, 
and her son. Dr. Thomas Wright, died in the 
Provost, New York, during the Revolution. 
Hetty married Harcourt, and is repre- 
sented as a very pious woman. Of Jonadab we 
know nothing, except that he had a daughter 
Rachel, who married Solomon Wheeler. 

Hannah, daughter of Mill John, married 
Samson, son of Christopher Hawxhurst. Her 
father gave her a tract of land at Cedar Swamp, 
which he says in the deed he got from his 
father, who wished her to have it. This land 
her husband exchanged for a tract at Matinecock 
(now Buckram), where he probably had some be- 
fore. He also bought mills at Glen Cove, and 
seems to have been a very active man, but prob- 
ably not altogether prudent, as at his death 
some of his land had to be sold to pay his debts. 
Hannah survived him, but nothing more is known 
of her.— Issue, William, Joseph, Benjamin, Sam- 
son, and Daniel. We know of no descendants 
of Samson in the male line. Daniel moved away. 
JOSEPH lived and died on a part of his 
father's place, which, with other large parts, 
belongs now to Samuel Cock. His son William 
lived in Mill River Hollow. Ephraim, son of 
Wilham, lived at Westbury, where he died not 
long ago. highly respected. Allen, son of William, 
lives at Oyster Bay. He was for many years a 
justice of the peace, an office which he filled with 
abilitv and integrity. 

WILLIAM and BENJAMIN, sons of Samson, 
were very extensively engaged in business at 
Oyster Bay and Cold Spring. They probably ex- 
tended their operations too much, for they failed 
and moved to New York. William married Anne 
Prat,. His daughter Hannah married Peter 
Townsend (see Peter, of Henry 4th Chap X ) 
Sarah and Amji.^both married William Denning, 
of New York. *One of Benjamin's daughters 
married Timothy Matlack, and another married 
Willet Hicks. 

Zeruiah. daughter of Mill John, married Dr. 
Matthew Parish. They lived on the place now 
belonging to Mrs. Miner, which she inherited — 
Issue, Esther, Elizabeth, Daniel, }cUl and Towns- 
end. 

_ ESTHER was born March nth, 1719, and mar- 
ried Penn Townsend. (See Penn Townsend, 
Chapter VI.) 

ELIZABETH married, first, Richard Latting; 



second, Augustine Weeks, in 1757. — Issue, by the 
first, Zeruiah, Saiah, Freelove, and Richard; by 
the second, Refine. 

Zeruiah married Captain James Farley in 
1770.— Issue, Elizabeth and Margaret. 

Elizabeth was born July 26th, 1772, and mar- 
ried Zebulon Frost, November 14th, 1792.— Issue, 
Sarah, Anne, and James. Sarah married Hallet 
Thorne. Anne married Charles Frost. (See 
Cb-arles, of Sarah, Chap. VII.) James married 
Eliza Tower. 

Margaret was born March ist, 1775. and mar- 
ried Townsend Cock, November 14th, 1792. (See 
Townsend, of Rosannah and Daniel, Chap. VII.) 
She died March 8th, 1848. 

Sarah married Latting Carpenter. 

Freelove married John Cock. (See John, of 
Rosannah and Hecekiah, Chap. VII.) 

DANIEL married Anne, daughter of Absalom 
Townsend, and died without children, at a very 
advanced age. 

JOHN died unmarried, also at a great age. 

TOWNSEND married Freelove Dodge.— Issue, 
Isaac, Ambrose, Judith, Mary, Penn, and Jacob. 

Isaac married Annie Latting. — Issue, Towns- 
end, Anne, Phebe, Sarah, and Richard. 

Ambrose married Deborah Wheeler.— Issue, 
Stephen, Isaac, Daniel, Sarah, Mary A., William, 
Ambrose, Eliza, and Henry. 

Judith married Richard Alsop. — Issue, Nancy. 

Mary married Silas Latting.— Issue, Zachariah, 
Eliza, and Judith. 

Penn married Elizabeth Mapes.— Issue, Mary. 

Jacob married Freelove Powell. — Issue, Daniel, 
James, Henry, Thomas, Nancy, and Martha. 

Refine married Tobias.— Issue, Eliza- 
beth, Sarah, Jacob, Ambrose, James, Ellwood, 
and Barclay. 

JOTHAM, son of mill JOHN, 

Married, first, Martha, daughter of Rose Wright 
and Nathaniel Coles, Jr. She died very young, 
and he married Anne Kissam, who survived him 
many years. He bought from the heirs of the 
3d Henry Townsend, the share of the mill which 
they owned, and got permission from the Town 
to close the road, which was father north, and 
open one upon the dam. He died about 1752. — 
Issue, by the first wife, Freelove and John. 

JOHN married Judith, daughter of Penn 
Townsend, in 1767. He died December 7th, 
178,=;. (See Judith, of Penn, Chap. IV.) 

FREELOVE married the Rev. Walter Wilmot, 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica. He 
was born at Southampton, Suffolk County, in 
1709. and graduated at Yale, 1735. She died at 
Jamaica, February 25th, 1744, and was buried on 
Mill Hill, where her tombstone bears the follow- 
ing inscription : 

"Here lyes Mrs. Freelove Wilmot, Dec'd Feb, 25th. 
1744, Aged 23 years. 

"Behold my dearest part has left this world 

All nature into ruin shall be hurl'd : 

Then will .^he rise, brisht as ye mornins star. 

And gain the skies with Joy beyond compare." 



100 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Mr. Wilmot died at Jamaica, and was buried in 
the graveyard belonging to his church. The fol- 
lowing epitaph was copied from his headstone : 

"Here lies the Rev. Walter Wilmot, died Aug. 6th, 
1744. aged 35 years. 

"No more from sacred desk I preach. 
You'll hear my voice no more ; 

Yet from the dead my dust will teach 
The same I tpught before. 

"Be ready tor this dark abode. 

That when our bodies rise 
We'll meet with joy the Son of God, 

Desceudiug from the skies." 

Thompson says he was a much-loved pastor. — 
Issue, Freelove, born February 25th, 1744; mar- 
ried James Townsend, of Duck Pond. (See 
James, of IVilliaiH, Chapter VII.) She died July 
2ist, i8og. 

MicAjAH, SON OF MiLL JoHN, was bom 1699; 
he inherited the land at Cedar Swamp bought by 
Robert, son of Henry ist, from the Indians, and 
settled upon it. April 23d, 1732, he married 
Elizabeth Piatt, who died May i6th, 1759. De- 
cember. 1760, he married iMeribah, widow of 
Joshua Townsend, who died very soon after, and 
in December, 1763, he married Anne, widow of 
George Frost. He was a very decided Whig in 
the Revolution, as was his son Jotham. He died 
November 9th, 1781.— Issue, Piatt, Epenetus, Jo- 
tham and Micah. 

PLATT was born 1733. and married. April 
26th, 1760, to Elizabeth Hubbard, who was born 
in i"43- He was a prominent physician in the 
city of New York. His wife died October 2d, 
1776, and he married Betty Dickinson, October 
15th, 1777.— Issue, by the first wife, Elizabeth, 
William, Isaac, and Mary; by the second, Frances 
and Piatt. 

Platt was drowned in 1805. 

Frances married Lancaster Lupton, and was 
remarkable for her literary attainments, and not 
less so for her feminine accomplishments. 

EPENETUS was born 1742, and married Lucy 
Beach September loth, 1769. He was an Epis- 
copal clergyman. He with his whole family was 
lost, between New York and Nova Scotia, in 
1779. 

JOTHAM was born September i8th, 1746, and 
was married August 12th, 1775, to Deborah 
Kirk, who was born November nth, 1745. He 
inherited the place at Cedar Swamp, where he 
died October 12th, 1815. His wife died February 
27th, 1841.— Issue, John K., Micajah, and Epene- 
tus. 

John K. was born September 28th. 1777. and 
died December 3d, i86t. — Issue. Charles Wright 
and Epenetus. Charles Wright married Anne 
Pierce, and died September 4th, 1861. Epenetus 
married Angelina Bell. 

Micajah was born November 17th, 1782. He 
succeeded to the homestead and married Hannah 
Tredwell, January 15th, 181 7. He died October 
1st. !86r.' — Issue. Jotham (who died in infancy), 
Anne M., Mary T., Alexander, and John T. 
Anne M. married William C. Carpenter. Mary 



T. married Daniel V. Smith. John T. married 
Elizabeth Monfort. 

These two sons of Micajah are the only de- 
scendants of Henry Townsend, in the male line, 
now upon the Island. To Mrs. Townsend, their 
mother, we are indebted for the genealogy of her 
husband's family. 

MICAH was born May 13th, 1749, and was 
married August 13th, 1778, to Mary Wells, who 
was born April 25th, 1760. He removed to Can- 
ada, and died April 2Sth, 1832.— Issue, Harriet 
M., Samuel W., Epenetus, Rebecca, Mary, Mica- 
jah, Elizabeth, and Sarah. 

Harriet M. was born August 7th, 1779, and 
died at Montreal, May 2d, 1848. 

Samuel W. was born Alay 24th, 1780, and was 
married, March, 1802, to Pamela Lawrence, who 
was born May 17th, 1782.— Issue, Sophia A., died 
November, 1829; Erastus, died April, 1859; Mary 
A., Micajah, and Catharine L. 

Epenetus was born January 24th, 1783, and 
married Polly Stoughton, who was born Decem- 
ber i6th, 1785. He died at Cincinnati, January, 
1839. Plis wife died at Putnam, Ohio. July 14th, 
1819.— Issue, Harriet M., Mandanu, and Mary M. 
Rebecca G. was born November 21st, 1784, and 
died at Philipsburg, Canada East, December 3d, 
1853- 

Mary (Mrs. Taylor) was born October 6th, 
1786, and died September 27th, 1S39. 

Micajah was born January 22d, 1789, and was 
married, March 19th. 1823, to Elizabeth David- 
son, who was born February iSlh, 1806. She died 
at Clarenceville, Canada East, April, 1834. and 
he married Sarah Kellogg, July 6th, 1836.— Issue, 
by the first wife, Morris M., Frances L., and 
Micajah; by the second, Heber. Hobart. Anne E., 
Helen, Frances M., and Harriet. Frances L. and 
Micajah died in childhood. 

Elizabeth (Mrs. Mills) was born February 
26th, 1793, and died Feburary 14th, 1841. 

Sarah (Mrs. Hill) was born January 31st, 
1800, and died November 2Sth, 1844. 

John, son of Mill John, was born 1703. and 
married Sarah, daughter of Edmund Wright, in 
1738. At the death of his father-in-law he bought 
the homestead, now belonging to J. C. Townsend. 
Like the greater part of his family, he was a 
good Whig. He died December 22d, 17R6, and 
his wife, April 22d. 1780. They were buried in 
the graveyard southeast of the Baptist church, 
their headstones having been brought from Eng- 
land by their son Ephraim. — Issue, Ethelinda, 
Mary, Ephraim, and Israel. 

ETHELINDA married the Rev. Peter Under- 
hill in 1760, and died April i8th, 1803, aged 62. 
MARY married Jarvis Crookcr. 
EPHRAIM was a captain in the merchant 
service, of high standing. He married Hannah 
Meade, in Connecticut, and settled on the home- 
stead, where he built the house now standing 
thereon. He died February 13th, 1799, and was 
buried in the graveyard with his parents, where 
his daughter Sarah erected a stone to his mem- 
ory. — Issue, Sarah, Deborah, John, Seth, and 
Ephraim. 



lOI 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Sarah lived many years with her friend and 
cousin, Mrs. John N. Lloyd, of Lloyd's Neck, 
where she died, and was interred in their vault. 

Deborah married James Colwell, May nth, 
1807. Her husband was postmaster of the village 
of Oyster Bay more than fifty years. — Issue, 
Townsend, Sarah, William, and Deborah. 

ISRAEL married Phebe, daughter of Phebe 
Townsend and Job Weeks (see Phebe, of Sam- 
uel, Chap. VII.), and removed to Armonk, 
North Castle, about 1775.— Issue, Walter, Susan, 
Jacob, Samuel, Isaiah, Dorinda, John, Israel, 
Phebe, and Job. Isaiah and Job died unmarried. 

Israel Townsend, born 1742, died 1832. Phoebe 
Weeks, his wife, born 1752, died 1836. 

Walter married Jemima White. He was a 
distinguished classical scholar. — Issue, Juliana, 
Thyrza, and Euphrosyne. 

Susan married Samuel Sands. — Issue, Hebe, 
Absalom and Israel. 

Jacob was born at Armonck, N. Y., February 
l8th, 1784, died at Danbury, Conn., February 23d, 
1863. He married, first, Susannah Lounsberry, 
b. February sth, 1786, died April 6th, 1812.— Issue, 
Louisa Susannah, b. January 27th, 1809, died 

February 17th, 1885. Second , at St. John, 

N. B., May 27th, 1815, Jane W. Berrien, born 
April 25th, 1786, died March i8th, 1820. Third 
at St. John, N. B., April 18, 1822, Mary Wood- 
worth, born Halifax, N. S., November 30th, 1792, 
died Peoria, 111., July 20th, 1872.— Issue, Louns- 
berry, who died in infancy, and Israel Leander, 
bom St. John, N. B., August 9th, 1827. Israel 
Leander married, August 20th, 1850, in N. Y. 
City, Maria Theresa, daughter of George and 
Sarah Maria (Vincent) Eichell. She died at 
Washington, D. C, 1894.— Issue, Sarah Josephine, 
born Cherry Valley, N. Y., December 25th, i8si. 
Samuel Woodworth, born Danbury, Conn., July 
3, 1855. Walter, born and died April 23d, 1859. 
Arthur Leander, born December i6th, 1861, died 
March 24th, 1862, and Maria Theresa, born Dan- 
bury. Conn., July 5th, 1863. Sarah Josephine 
married William Henry Whitehead, of West- 
chester, Pa., at Washington, D. C, August 9th, 
1876. — Issue, Henry Townsend, born Blooming- 
ton, III., January 6th, 1879, Lucretia Fleming, born 
Bloomington, 111., June 24lh, 1883. and Josephine 
Woodworth, born Bloomington, III, November 
30th, 1884, now reside in Golden. Colorado. Sam- 
uel Woodworth married Lelia McKnew, daughter 
of Captain Edwin McKnew, C. S. A., of the 
Mariland Line at Washington, D. C, June 20, 
1906. Maria Theresa married Walter Montague 
Wilson, son of John Vanderipe and Emily Mon- 
tague (Cantelo) Wilson, of Philadelphia, in 
Washington. D. C. June 30, 1886. —Issue, Irving 
Townsend, born Washington, D. C, March 25, 
1888, died Albuquerque, N. Mex., July 21st, 1888, 
and Ethel Louise, bom Brooklyn, N. Y., January 
16th, i8go. The Rev. Israel Leander Townsend, 
S. T. D., a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, was a man of great strength of character, 
who fought valiantly always for the right as he 
saw it, and generally conquered. He was the 



son of Jacob Townsend, of New York, and was 
born in St. John, New Brunswick, 1827. He be- 
came a student in Columbia University, from 
which institution he graduated with the degree 
of A. B. in 1847. In 1850 Dr. Townsend re- 
ceived the degree of A. M. at Columbia, and the 
same year was graduated from the General Theo- 
logical Seminary; also receiving the degree of 
A. M. from Trinity College, and of S. T. D. 
from St. Stephens College. Dr. Townsend was 
called to various parishes through the United 
States, until 1874 to 1896 he was continuously in 
charge of the Church of the Incarnation in Wash- 
ington, D. C. During his stay in Washington 
from 1875- 1877, he was Chaplain of the House of 
Representatives, and in the Centennial year he 
was the first Episcopal Chaplain since their first 
one. Bishop White, one hundred years previous, 
and, like him, officiated in the House fully robed. 
Martin J. Townsend, of Albany, and Washing- 
ton Townsend were Representatives at the time 
Dr. Townsend was Chaplain, and were his fast 
friends. It was said that Dr. Townsend made 
and unmade several Bishops by his determined 
championship or the reverse, and those most op- 
posed to him in the heat of battle finished by 
being his stanch admirers. He was noted for 
his fine voice; his reverent utterances could fill 
the largest edifices with ease, as his fine sermons 
filled the hearts of his congregations. He was 
the oldest member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. 
Upon retiring from active life in i8g6, Dr. 
Townsend made his home with his youngest 
daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Walter 
Montague Wilson, living in Brooklyn. Dr. 
Townsend was interred at Danbury, Conn., Oc- 
tober, igo8. 

Samuel married Rebecca Purdy. — Issue, Isaiah, 
Caroline, and Maria. 
^ Israel Townsend, born 1791, died 1855, mar- 
ried Phoebe Sands, born 1794, died 1864. — Issue, 
Samuel Orlando, born 1821, died 1895, married 
Elizabeth H. Hunt, born 1828. — Issue, Edith, born 
1850, married Rec. Henry NicoU Wayne. — Issue, 
Henry Townsend. born 1874, Elizabeth Campbell, 
horn 1876. Edith Donaldson, born 1880, and (jlenn 
Hylton. Henry Townsend Wayne married Helen 
A. Child. — Issue, Henry Child, born 1905. Eliza- 
beth Canif'bell married James E. Cooper. — Issue, 
James Wayne, born 1904. Edith Donaldson mar- 
ried Chauncey Porter Goss, Jr. — Issue, Crauncey 
Porter 3d, born 1903, and Richard Wayne, born 
1905. Some members of Mrs. Edith Townsend 
Wayne's family reside in her old home at Armonk, 
N. Y., being the sixth generation to do so. 

Dorinda married Samuel T. Wright. — Issue, 
Samuel and Phebe. 

John married Eliza P. Horton. He served in 
the War of 1812, and at the age of twenty-seven 
was appointed Judge of Westchester County, 
which office he held for eighteen years, when he 
removed to New York, where he was elected to 
the Legislature, and in 1846 to the State Senate. 
He died in 1863, aged 74. — Issue, Leander, Dor- 
inda, Melissa, Caroline, John, and Josephine. 

102 



TC 



,-- .. OWNSHE^M-^ 



Sarah 



Jacob, S- 



fie be- 

,;;,,,- . from 

which degree 

.;■ \ ^ 'Ma re- 

of A. iVi. at Cijlumbia, and the 

iduated from the General Theo- 

' ^''" ■"• „. , logical Sciuii.aiy; also receiving the degree 

laughter of Phebe j^-^ ^ |^„j„ Trinity College, and of S. T. 

'■'••' ' ' "■"- - • -: ■ - " .. Dr. Townsend was 

■ through the United. 

!e was continuously in 

Incarnation in Wash- 

,; stay in Washington 

•f was Chaplain of the House of 

.-^nrt in the Centennial year he 

■A l;ii;- li: >■;:•- ,,, since their first 

■ ir. — Issue, Juliana ,i years previous, 

^". ■ ^ed. 
el Sands.— Is; ig' 



it Armonck, N, Y., 



Dr. Townsend 



a St 



for 

.fill 

■ns 

.!>. lit was 

•n fraternity. 

.> ... in 1896, Dr. 

ne with his youngest 

»>fr and Mrs. Walter 

Brooklyn. Dr. 

iibury, Conn., Oc- 

'Iv. — Issue, Isaiah, 

I i8S5, mar- 

.T<-sue, 

ied 



I ••len 



.'.II.' VilH! • 

L'rauncey 

>> „yne, born 

th Townsend 

lie at Armonk, 

do so. 

'/right— Issue, 



' jrtnr:. He servr 

r twenty-seven 

...'.ster County, 

.^ars. xvhen he 

was elected to 

r.i!K St.ite Senate. 

-lie, Leander, Dor- 

. ind Josephine. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Issue — Israel, Jerome, Job, Elizabeth S., and 
Samuel. 

Israel Jerome married Mary Louisa Emmons, 
daughter of Isaac Emmons, N. Y. City, August 
17th, 1854. — Issue, Herbert Israel, born at 
Armonk, N. Y., January 7th, 1856, and Mary 
Elizabeth, born at Austin, Minn., April 6th, 
1873. Rev. Israel Jerome Townsend went West 
in 1844, being sent by the Domestic Missionary 
Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and 
was ordained Deacon by Bishop Clarkson, ad- 
vanced to the Priesthood by Bishop Whipple ; of- 
ficiating where he was called ; finally removing to 
Fairmont, where he and his wife both died, deep- 
ly regretted and highly thought of for their good 
work. 

Eli::abeth Sands married Andrew Jackson 
Kinch, of Armonk, town of North Castle, N, Y., 

January 6th, 1840. — Issue, . After lo'sing 

her eldest son, she moved to Pleasantville, N. Y., 
where she passed the remaining years of her life 
and died February 12th, 1891. 

Herbert Israel married Helen Loclier, daughter 
of James and Helen (Hume) Locher, of Wliite 
Haugh Davoit, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at Fair- 
mont, Minn., afterwards removing to Winnipeg, 
Manitoba. — Issue, Sarah Stuart, who married 
George Syme. — Issue, Helen Virginia, Israel 
Charles Herbert, Helen Marguerite, Mary Eliza- 
beth, and Phebe Amelia. 

Mary Elicabefh, sister of Herbert I. Townsend, 
married Bert Shepliard, and resides in Chicago, 
111. 



CHAPTER XII. 

MARY, DAUGHTER OF HENRY 1ST, 

Married John, son of Nicholas Wright, who 
lived on the place now owned by B. T. Under- 
bill. — Issue, Rose, Eliphal. and Mary. 

ROSE, as well as Eliphal, is said to have been 
a celebrated beauty. She married, first, Nathaniel 
Coles, Jr. He died September 8th, 1705, and she 
married Justice John Townsend. She became a 
widow again, in 1709. This time she remained 
unmarried several years, but in 1734 signs herself 
Rose Birdsall, after which nothing is known of 
her. She must have had what was then a hand- 
some fortune from her father, which she was 
quite competent to manage. Her writing is re- 
markably easy and handsome. — Issue, by her first 
husband, Rosannah, Freelove, Martha, and 
Wright; by the second, Penn and Rose. (See 
Justice John, Chap. IV.) 

ROSANNAH was born October 2d, i6gi, and 
married George Townsend. She died June 29th, 
1757- (See George, son of George 1st, Chap. 
VII.) 

FREELOVE married John Dickinson, and died 
within the year. 

MARTHA was born May, 1701, and married 
Jotham Townsend. (See Jotham. of Mill John. 
Chap. XI.) The following inscription was taken 
from her headstone on Mill Hill : 



"Here lyes the body of Mrs. Martha Townsend, 
wife of Mr. Jotham Townsend, who died July 
23d, 1723, aged 22 years, 2 months, and 11 days." 

WRIGHT was born September 20tli, 1704. He 
married Sarah Birdsall, and died February 23d, 
176s, and is buried at B. T. Underbill's. His 
wife died i\Iay i8th, 1799. — Issue, Nathaniel, 
Rhoda, and Freelove. 

Nathaniel married Hann<ah, daughter of John 
Butler, from whom they inherited a large estate 
at Dosoris, where they settled. He died January 
"ih, 1814, and she, January 17th, 1838. — Issue, 
John B., Nathaniel, Wright, Oliver, Sarah, Eliza- 
beth, Charlotte, Mary, and Freelove. 

John B. married Elizabeth Underbill. (See 
Elizabeth, of Letitia, Chap. XVII.) — Issue, Eliza, 
Benjamin U., John B., William, Isaac, and Han- 
nah. 

Nathaniel married Elizabeth Townsend. .(See 
Elizabeth, of James, Chap. Vlf.) He, in connec- 
tion with John B., carried on the mills at Dosoris, 
and lived on the West Island. 

Wright married Elizabeth Youngs. — Issue, Sam- 
uel, Elias, and Elizabeth. 

Olii-er married Margaret Underbill. — Issue, Ol- 
iver, Augustus, Edward, Alexander, Elizabeth, 
and Nathaniel. 

Sarah married Robert Stoddard. — Issue, Mary, 
Hannah, Catharine, Martha, Betsey, and Sarah. 

Elizabeth married Stephen Thorne. — Issue, 
Mary and Daniel. 

Charlotte married Walter Townsend. (See 
Walter, of James, Chap. VII.) 

Mary married Joshua Green. — Issue, Nathaniel 
and Rebecca. 

Frecloz'e married Jacob Latting. — Issue, Eliza- 
beth and Augusta. 

Rhoda married, first, Tunis Wortman ; second, 

Smith. She died December 26th, 1800, 

aged sixty-one. She was buried at B. T. Under- 
bill's. — Issue, by her first husband, Coles. 

Coles married, first, Sally Van Wyck, and sec- 
ond, Elizabeth Latting. — Issue by the first wife, 
Sally, Horton, and Fanny; by the second. Coles 
and Rhoda. Coles died young. Sally married 
Maurice Suydam. — Issue, Joshua, Simonson, Fan- 
ny, and Anne. Horton married Latting. 

There are none of his descendants left here, and 
the name is extinct. Fanny married Daniel 
Smith, of Hog Island. — Issue, Jacob, Thomas U., 
Daniel V., and Sarah E. Rhoda married AIsop 
White. — Issue, Coles, Joseph, Jacob, Mary, and 
Rhoda. 

Freelove was born November 5th, 1731, and 
married Nathan Horton. He died November 2d, 
1793. She died without children. 1820. 

ELIPHAL, daughter of Mary Townsend and 
John Wright, married, first, Henry Townsend 3d, 
by whom she had two children, Henry and Ab- 
salom. Her husband died in 1709, and she mar- 
ried Daniel Wright, who only lived one year. Her 
third husband was John Morris, of New Jersey, 
by whom she had three children, Deborah. Justus, 
and John, Deborah married Johannus De Camp, 
near Morristown; and her daughter, name un- 
known, married a De Hart. Of Justus we know 



103 



TO WN SEND — TOWN SHEND 



nothing. John settled in Maryland, and married 
Mary Rownds. He had three children, of whom 
only one (James) left a family. James married 
Leah, daughter of WilHam Winder, of Somerset 
County, Md.— Issue, William Winder and John 
B. William W., lately deceased, was a physician 
in Dover, Delaware. John B. is still living in Bal- 
timore. 

MARY, daughter of Mary Townsend and John 
Wright, married Richard, son of Josias Latting, 
and was, through her son Josias, the ancestress 
of all the Lattings in the Town. Her second 
husband was Jacob Furman, probably the son of 
her aunt (Susannah Townsend) and Aaron Fur- 
man, Jr. By him she had a daughter, Susannah, 
who married Thomas Morgan, which is all that 
is known of her. 



CHAPTER Xni. 

ROSE, DAUGHTER OF HENRY 1ST, 

Married Captain Joseph Dickinson. Dr. P. 
Townsend says that during one of her father's 
imprisonments she, then a child nine years old, 
fed him through the bars of the window. She 
had, we believe, a son named James, who married 
Sarah, daughter of Sarah Townsend and Abra- 
ham tjnderhill. (See Sarah, of Thomas, Chap. 
IV.) She certainly had a son, or grandson, Zeb- 
ulon, who married Rose, daughter of Justice John 
Townsend. (See Justice John, Chap. IV.) — Issue, 
Townsend and Henry. Of Townsend we know 
nothing. Henry was born January 13th, 1735, and 
was married June 30th, 1752, to Ruth, daughter 
of Silvanus Townsend. (See Sihanus, of Rich- 
ard, Chap. XVII.) — Issue, Mary and Silvanus. 

Mary was born March 12th, 1754. Her name 
was Rose, but she preferred Mary, and so changed 
it. She married Gideon Wright, December 6th, 
1772, and died May 6th, 1842. (See Gideon 
Wright, Chap. V.) 

Silvanus was born November 19th, 1755; mar- 
ried Mary Miles. — Issue, Townsend, who married 
Rebecca Franklin, granddaughter of Gideon 
Wright, and died without children. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

ROBERT, SON OF HENRY 1ST, 

Was bom June 3d, 1667. He was one of those 
named in the New Purchase, and, besides, bought 
lands from the Indians on his own account. His 
will, dated 1687, which we copy below, shows 
that he was about to leave home. He must have 
died soon afterwards, as his headstone on the Hill 
is dated 1687. The land at Cedar Swamp, be- 
queathed to his father by this w'M. is now owned 
by the heirs of the late Micajah Townsend, who 
are the great-great-great-grandchildren of Henry 
1st. They have the Indian deed. The place has 
never been sold, except by the Indians, which can 
be said of very few places in the town. 



"the will of ROBERT TOWNSEND. 

"Know all men to whom these presents may 
come, or may any wise concern: know ye, that 
being upon a journey, not knowing how Provi- 
dence may dispose of my _ , I being 
possessed of certain lands, by virtue of bills of 
sale made to me and assigned to me, do here by 
these presents, if it should so happen any other- 
wise than well in my return, that then my said 
land, with whatever I am possessed withal, shall 
return into the actual possession of my father, 
Henry Townsend, Sen., for him to dispose of 
according to his will and pleasure, as witness my 
hand and seal, this third day of October, 1687. 
"Robert Townsend. 
"Sealed and delivered in presence of us, 

"Henry Townsend, Jr., 

"John Dousbury, 

"Job Wright." 



CHAPTER XV. 



RICHARD 1ST. 



Nothing is known of this youngest of the 
Townsend brothers until he appears at Jamaica, in 
1656. The first time his name occurs on the 
Oyster Bay Records is in 1668, when he bought 
land at Lusum. of Robert Williams. It is only 
in connection with that, and other purchases and 
allotments, that he appears upon the Records. His 
first wife was a sister of Henry's wife, and a 
daughter of Robert Coles.— Issue, Dinah and 
Leah. The second was Elizabeth Weeks, of War- 
wick, R. I., John, Richard, Hannah, Deliverance 
and Mary, whose brother John married Rose, 
daughter of John 1st. The date of his death is 
not known, but the settlement of his estate, which 
we copy below, is dated early in 1671, and as 
his son Richard was then but twelve weeks old, 
he could not have been dead a great while. 

"These presents declareth unto all whom it may 
any wise concern, that I, Elizabeth Townsend, 
widow of the late deceased Richard Townsend, of 
Lusum, near Oyster Bay, in the North Riding, on 
Long Island, with the advice and consent of my 
husband's brother, Henry Townsend, and John 
Townsend his cousin, of the above said place, do 
consent and agree to divide and part my estate 
as followeth, being made executors by the Gov- 
ernor's order, because no will was made by my 
husband. Therefore, it is ordered and agreed 
that I am to have my house I now possess and 
house lot, with all the land I now possess belong- 
ing to it, fenced and broken up and improved, and 
so much more westward joining to the rear of it 
to the sum of fifteen acres, with meadow at south 
and Plains, during my life; but the rest of the 
woodland my husband bought of Robert Williams 
is to be my son John Townsend's, when he comes 
to age, except six acres I reserve for a daughter, 
if I see cause. But after my decease my_ son 
Richard Townsend, now twelve weeks old, is to 



104 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



have my house and house lot and one-half the 
house plot, with the orchard that now is, and so 
much land to the rear of it westward, to the sum 
of fifteen acres, being all of the first purchase of 
the land of Robert Williams ; and at my decease, 
then my son John Townsend above said is to have 
all the lands remaining of the first and second 
purchases, except six acres I reserve for a daugh- 
ter above said, and the other half of the house 
plot above excepted to build on, if he see cause; 
but it is to be understood that the said six acres 
is on the north side of the last purchase, and 
that all my husband's right of meadow and plains 
is to be divided between my sons John and Rich- 
ard Townsend. for their own proper right and 
interest forever ; but if either of them died under 
age, his living brother is to possess and enjoy 
the deceased's lands as his own proper riglit ; but, 
if I see cause, ten acres of plains is to be my son 
John's, when he comes to age, to possess and 
enjoy as the other woodland above said. And to 
my above said husband's two oldest daughters, 
Dinah and Leah, I do give, and by this deliver in 
present possession, for their part of their father's 
estate, tw^o young horses, three years old. apiece, 
and two two-year-old heifers, two cushions, two 
feather pillows, two coverlets, a white wrought 
petticoat, and bedding blankets — all to be divided 
between them two ; and the twenty acres of land 
the Town of Oyster Bay did give their father, 
I do also give and confirm unto the said Dinah 
and Leah, for their own proper right and inter- 
est; but if they sell it, I desire that for my son 
or my brother John Weeks, or one of the above- 
mentioned persons, may have knowledge and re- 
fusal of it, giving so much as another will for it. 
And to my three youngest daughters, Hannah, 
Deliverance, and Mary. I give in present posses- 
sion one fhree-year-old bay mare, that is, in con- 
sideration of a colt their grandfather Weeks gave 
them. But all the rest of bedding, goods and 
household stuff, with the rest of horses and cat- 
tle, are to remain in my hands for my use and 
comfort, toward the bringing up of my children ; 
being but young and tender, do not know but it 
may be all spent in bringing tliem up, the estate 
being but small ; therefore to engage to give por- 
tions to them — I mean to my own three youngest 
daughters, Hannah, Mary, and Deliverance — it is 
hard for me to promise and engage, lesa tthat I 
have may be spent in bringing them up. But I 
do by this promise and firmly agree, that if I 
marry, or go out of this jurisdiction in way of 
removal, to give an invoice of all movables, house- 
hold stuff, goods, and chattels unto my husband's 
brother, Henry Townsend, and his cousin, John 
Townsend. who are chosen by me, being related 
to the children, and my brother John Weeks, if 
he comes to dwell here in this jurisdiction, for 
overseers ; but if he come not here, then the said 
Henry Townsend and John Townsend may act 
as overseers between the children and myself. But 
if one or both of them die, then all. or some of 
them (I mean of my children under age that then 
are), shall have liberty to choose one or more, 
as needs shall require, provided they inhabit in 



this jurisdiction, for their overseers. That then 
the said overseers that are then extants are to 
take the invoice, if they like it, or take another 
themselves, if they please; that I may then have 
my thirds out of all the movable goods and chat- 
tels, and the other two-thirds is to be divided 
amongst my three daughters, Hannah, Mary, and 
Deliverance, or to them that are then alive ; and 
the overseers shall by this have power to do it if 
I marry again, or remove out of this jurisdiction 
above said, or if 1 decease it shall be the same, 
only then my one-third shall be theirs to whom I 
shall give it; but if I remain here during this my 
widowhood, I have liberty to give to my own 
three daughters above said, on marriage or other- 
wise, for their portion as I shall see cause, ac- 
cording to my ability. And to every of the above- 
mentioned promises and engagements, I firmly en- 
gage to perform. As witness my hand and seal, 
this eighth day of the 2d month, 1671. 

"Eliz.^beth Townsend. 
"In presence of us, 

"Joseph Nicholson, "AL\ry Willis, 
"Henry Townsend, "John Townsend. 

"And we, the above-mentioned Henry and John 
Townsend, do own and consent to the above said, 
and do stand as witnesses also." 

The John Townsend here mentioned as the 
cousin of Richard was his nephew, John, Sen., 
of Lusum. There are many instances in which 
nephews are called cousins; indeed, we do not 
remember their being called anything else by 
that generation. Of Richard's daughters we know 
nothing. 



CHAPTER XVL 

JOHN, SON OF RICH.'VRD, 

Married, first. Phebe. daughter of Robert Will- 
iams : and. secondly. Mercy . He removed 

to Cape May County. N. J., about 1698. His 
will, dated 1715, mentions his son-in-law, John 
Willis, and his sons, Richard and Robert. In 
1757. Richard and John Townsend, of Cape May, 
appoint an attorney in Oyster Bay. This is all 
we could find in the Records ; but through Daniel 
W. Townsend we learned tliat there were still 
Townsends in Cape May County, and one of 
them. Reuben Townsend, has furnished us with 
the following particulars. John Townsend settled 
near Townsend's Inlet, which was called after 
him. His great-grandson, Joshua Townsend, lives 
within three hundred yards of the spot upon 
which he first settled. Except a very small part, 
his property .still remains in the possession of his 
descendants. He died in 1721. Besides Richard 
and Robert, he had by the first wife two children, 
Sylvanus and Sarah, who both died in 1711. 
Sarah must have been the wife of John Willis, 
but we know nothing of her family. Robert 
settled in North Carolina. 



105 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



RICHARD, SON OF JOHN, 

Married Milicent Somers, of Somers Point, N. 
J , June i6th, 1704, and died May 30th, I737-— 
Is^ue, Phebe, John, Hannah, Richard, Sylvanus, 
Isaac', Mihcent, Samuel, Robert, Daniel, and Ja- 
cob. Phebe, Milicent, Robert, and Jacob died 
young. 

JOHN married, first, Sarah Brandreth; and, 
secondly, Tabitha Young, in 1740- He died in 
1785.— Issue, by the first wife, Amy, Milicent, 
David, and Rachel; by the second, Henry Y., 
Tabitha, John, Sarah, Judith, Hannah, Rachel, 
and Joshua. Amy, Milicent, the two Rachels, 
and Joshua died unmarried. 

D.\viD married, first, Elizabeth Brandreth; sec- 
ond, Hannah Smith.— Issue by the last, David, 
who married Anne Swain.— Issue, Tabitha, who 
married Dr. John L. Smith. — Issue, David and 
John. The last married Caroline, daughter of 
Joshua Townsend. 

Henry Y. married, first, Priscilla Ludlam ; sec- 
ond, Edith Stiles, then the widow of 

Swain. — Issue, by the first, Tabitha and Reuben; 
by the second, Joshua and Henry, and Priscilla. 
■ Reuben married Elizabeth Holmes. — Issue, 
Richard, who married Lydia Hand. — Issue, Rich- 
ard H. 

Descended from Jacob, of Cape May Towns- 
ends. 

Richard Holmes Townsend 1st, of Cape May 
Court House, married Lydia Hand in 1815. — Is- 
sue, Richard Holmes. 

RICHARD HOLMES 2d, born 1817. He re- 
moved to Philadelphia and married Mary Q. Van 
Syckel.— Issue, Richard Holmes, Charles H. Eu- 
gene, and Pauline. He died 1898. 

RICHARD HOLMES 3d married Mary T. 
Scott, of Erie, Pa.— Issue, Mathilde. Their time 
was passed between Philadelphia, Washington, D. 
C., and Europe, where their great wealth and the 
acknowledged beauty of their only child, allied to 
the social position of the Townsend family, af- 
forded them distinct prestige in tlie world of 
fashion. Mr. Townsend was excessively fond of 
horses, and met his death while fox hunting in 
1902. 

CHARLES H. died in 1905. 

DR. EUGENE, a practicing physician in Phila- 
delphia, married .—Issue, Mae, who mar- 
ried Henry H. Pease, and resides in Wilkes- 
Barre, Pa. 

PAULINE B. is unmarried, and resides in 
Philadelphia. 

Joshua (twin with Henry, born July, 1786; both 
living 1864) married Sarah Schellinger. — Issue, 
Aaron, Mary, Reuben, William, Elizabeth, Caro- 
line, and Jane. Mary married Uriah Hewitt. 
Caroline married John Smith. Reuben married 
Julia Leaming.— Issue, Pennington S., Julia A., 
Florence L., and Lucien P. All died young but 
Florence. 

Henry married Sarah Townsend. — Issue, Thom- 
as, Robert T., Charles, David, and Lewis. Charles 
married Tobiah Corson. — Issue, Jonathan. 



Priscilla married Rem Corson. — Issue, Baker, 
Uriah, Edith, and Henry. 

Tabitlia married Eli Townsend. — Issue, James, 
Hannah, EU, Priscilla. 

Priscilla married Joshua Swain. — Issue, Joshua 
and Henry. 

John married Sarah. — Issue, Israel, Swain, 
Richard, Zebulon, and John. 

Swain married Sarah Hand. 

Richard married Hannah Welsey. — Issue, Char- 
lotte, John, Sarah A., Lewis, Deborah, and Amos. 

Zebulon married Antha Corson. 

John married . — Issue, Smith and Israel. 

Sarah married John Stiles. — Issue, John, who 
married Milicent Young. 

Judith married Elijah Townsend. — Issue, Eli- 
jah, Judith, Enoch, Eli, and John. 

Hannah married Jacocks Swain. — Issue, Josh- 
ua, who married Priscilla, daughter of Eli and 
Tabitha Townsend. 

HANNAH, daughter of Richard, married Henry 
Stiles.— Issue, Edith, George, Roaner, Abigail, and 
Joshua. 

Edith married, first, Swain; secondly, 

Henry Y. Townsend. 

RICHARD, son of Richard, settled in Salem, 
N. J., and died in 1773.— Issue, Sarah, David, 
Catharine, Jacob, and Judith. 

ISA.A.C, son of Richard, married Sarah Wil- 
lets.— Issue, Mark and Isaac. 

Mark married Elizabeth Clements. 

Isaac married Catina Albertson. — Issue, Sam- 
uel, Isaac, Jesse, Sarah, and Anna T. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

RICHARD, SON OF RICHARD. 

After the settlement of his father's estate, we 
could find no mention of the twelve-weeks-old 
Richard, except that in 1691 he sold land in 
Rhode Island to Thomas Townsend, and we had 
despaired of tracing him, when Chancellor Mc- 
Coun lent us some papers belonging to John D. 
Townsend, of New York and Astoria, by which 
we found that in 1693 he was living in Hemp- 
stead, where he married the daughter of John 
Smith, whose wife was a daughter of Richard 
Gildersleeve, a magistrate and leading man in the 
early days of Hempstead. Among the papers is 
the following engagement with his father-in-law: 

"This writing witnesseth, that I, Richard 
Townsend, of Hempstead, on Long Island, other- 
wise called the Island of Nassau, in Queen's 
County, in requital, or satisfaction, to my father- 
in-law, John Smith, for his kindness to me, both 
in land and meadow which he has been pleased 
to bestow on me, I do bind myself in the sum of 
forty pounds, current money of this province, to 
keep in his employ, and to carry on his business 
as heretofore I have done, as far as the Lord 
shall enable me; and if that hereafter I shall see 
cause to change my condition, yet I do hereby 



106 






JOHN RICHARD TUWNSEND. 

First President N. Y. Life Ins. and Trust Co. 
New York City. 



.\HiS. jUHN RICHARD TOWNSEND. 
{Caroline Drake.) 

New York City. 



HON. JOHN DRAKE TOWNSEND. 
New York City. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



own and engage myself to be an assistant and 
helpful to the carrying on and managing my 
father's business with my own, during his and 
my mother's life, so far as I am able to do. In 
confirmation hereof I have set my hand and seal, 
this iSth day of November, in the year 1693. 
"Richard Townsend. 

He was married twice, but the name of his 
second wife is not known. In 1717 we find, by 
the Town Record, that he bought a farm at Cedar 
Swamp. He died about 1739- It is very pleasant, 
after having so long lost sight of the fatherless 
infant, to find him prosperous, as these papers 
prove him to have been.— Issue, by the first wife, 
Richard; by the second, Mary, John, Timothy, 
and Silvanus. ,,, , . 

Richard lived with John at Westbury, and 
died unmarried, December 20th, 1795. 

Mary married Jackson, and lived at 

Jerusalem. One of her sons was Obadiah. 

JOHN, SON OF RICHARD 2D, 

Was born in 1708. He married Phebe, daughter 
of Thomas Carman, and lived at Westbury. He 
died in 1797; his wife, November 12th, I79»-— 
Issue. Richard, Ruth, Thomas, Samuel, and Mary. 
RICHARD was born August 14th, 174°- He 
married, first, Mary Titus, 17C1 ; and second 
Rosetta Seaman, 1770. He was a merchant at 
North Side.— Issue, by the first wife, Richard and 
Mary; by the second, Thomas Seaman, John Sea- 
man, Jacob Seaman, William Seaman, and Jack- 
son Seaman. . , 
Richard was born June ist, 1702, and marriea 

Hewlett. He died October 13th, 1813. 

Mary married Samuel, son of Ruth Townsend 
and Samuel Titus. , , c -n- \ a ■,a\ 

Thomas Seaman Townsend (of Richard 3d), 
born September 14th, I77i. died January nth, 
1834 A wealthy merchant of New York City, he 
married Margaret Nostrand, of Jamaica, L. 1., 
February 25th, 1797-— Issue, John Richard and 
Rosetta. Mr. Townsend's funeral took place from 
his residence. No. 11 Dey St., N. Y. City. The 
following extract is from the diary of his son, 
John Richard Townsend: "Jan. II. 1834, my 
father, Thomas S. Townsend, died. His remains 
were taken to St. George's Church, of which he 
had been a vestryman. The funeral services 
were performed by Rev. Drs. Melnor and Anthon. 
His pall bearers were Benjamin Strong, Stephen 
Van Wyck, Hubert Van Wagenen, George Suck- 
ley, Jonathan Lawrence, Sam'! Gilford. Jr., Sea- 
bury TredwcU and Anthony L. Underbill, ihe 
body was left in the Church over night, and next 
day taken to Jamaica, L. I., where it was met by 
relations and friends from different parts of the 
country. Services at the grave were performed by 
the Rev. William Johnson— the Rev. Messrs. 
Schoonmaker, of the Dutch Reformed, and Crane, 
of the Presbyterian Churches, attending. 1 he bells 
of the Episcopal and Dutch Churches were both 

° Uhn Richard, born June 22d, 1802, in N. Y. 
City, died February 13th, 1846. A man of very 



superior attainments and of such distinct integrity 
that the name John R. Townsend was its own 
commendation. He was a graduate of Columbia 
College and of Columbia Law School, and became 
a distinguished lawyer at the N. Y. Bar. At his 
death, his funeral look place at his late residence, 
7 Washington Place, N. Y. City. The remains were 
then taken to St. Thomas Church, and from there 
to Jamaica, L. I., for interment. Later being 
removed to Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, 
where his widow had erected an imposing monu- 
ment to him in the family plot. 'I'he N. Y. Bar 
and the numerous societies of which he was an 
officer, among them "The Society for the Refor- 
mation of Juvenile Delinquents," The New York 
Society Library, as well as the N. Y. Life Ins. 
& Trust Co., of which he was the first President, 
drew up resolutions of regret which were sent to 
his family, and moved to wear a badge of mourn- 
ing for thirty days. Among Mr. Townsend's 
close associates were Stephen Allen, Gulian C. 
Verplanck, Gardner G. Howland, Albert R. Gal- 
latin, Joseph Kernochan, Robert Ray, William 
B Astor, Vice Chancellor McCoun. Henry Nicoll, 
Charles O'Conor, William Mitchell, Francis B. 
Cutting, Cornelius R. Disosway, Mr. De Peyster, 
Mr. Verplanck and Mr. Gourlie. He married 
Caroline, daughter of John Drake, a wealthy 
merchant of N. Y. City, November 12th, 1828. 
At the time, her admirers spoke of her as "the 
prettiest girl in New York." Her direct ancestor, 
Samuel Drake, of Boston, removed from there 
in 1650 and became one of the ten original pro- 
prietors of Eastchester, N. Y. Benjamin, of East- 
chester, 3d in descent from Samuel, died during 
the War of the Revolution at Washington's 
Camp, White Plains, N. Y., and John Drake, of 
Eastchester, 4th of Samuel, married, in 1794. 
Magdalen Guion, of New Rochelle, N. Y.— Issue 
—of John Richard Townsend and Caroline Drake 
—Thomas Seaman, Madeline, John Drake, Jo- 
seph Lawrence and Margaret. 

Thomas ScamaJi. named for his paternal grand- 
father, born in N. Y. City, 1828. Of an affluent 
family, he spent his time in traveling, and became 
interested in literature. Returning to America 
from a trip to Ireland, he met Sarah, daughter 
of Robert Brett Schenck, descended from the 
Delanos on the maternal side, who he shortly 
after married. No issue. She died .August 6th, 
1904. He died November 24th, 1908. Mr. Towns- 
end's chief work was "The Record of the Great 
Rebellion," which now belongs to Columbia Col- 

lC2C. 

Madeline married Henry Beeckman, whose 
mother was one of the "beautiful Miss Livings- 
tons." of N. Y. City. His nephew, R. Livingston 
Beeckman, married Eleanor N. Thomas, and his 
niece, Kathcrinc L., married Louis L. Lorillard. 
Mr. Beeckman was a bank President and died in 
middle age. His \\\ie died about 1902.— Issue, 
John, who died unmarried; Livingston, who died 
in childhood; and Gilbert Livingston, in the real 
estate business, died about 1903. 

/o/i)i Drake, born in N. Y. C, 183S. became 
better known in mature years as Hon. John D. 



107 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Townsend. He was intended by his father to 
succeed him in the legal profession, as he very 
early exhibited brains of unusual power, passing 
rapidly and with honors through several prepara- 
tory schools, and leaving Dr. Harris's at White 
Plains, entered Columbia College before his four- 
teenth year. His father dying before his gradua- 
tion, he immediately put into effect his great de- 
sire to follow the sea, visiting almost every quar- 
ter of the habitable globe. At twenty he was 
second officer of the historic ''Flying Cloud," 
which made the record sailing trip from N. Y. 
round the Horn to San Francisco, in eighty-nine 
days. This visit to California made him what 
is recognized as one of the "Forty-niners." Upon 
attaining his majority he inherited a handsome 
fortune from his father, investing his entire cap- 
ital in a mercantile house, which eventually failed, 
after his marriage to Eliza A. Delano Swan, of 
Boston, Mass., a "Mayflower" descendant. — Issue, 
Caroline Drake, Elizabeth Swan, Madeline and 
Margaret. After the business failure, Mr. Towns- 
end, still a very young man, decided to follow 
his father's wish and study law, finally graduating 
in the Dane Law School of Harvard University. 
A Democrat, he represented Queen's County in 
the Legislature, and was the nominee for Dist. 
Atty. ; his party also wishing to send him to the 
State Senate, but withdrew, as an ever-increasing 
practice was now claiming his time. Throughout 
his legal career of thirty years he became the 
lawyer— generally the defendant — in almost all the 
noted cases of the time; a tower of strength to 
his clients and a most formidable opponent. He 
was recognized as difficult to defeat, and ac- 
quired the sobriquet of "New York's fighting 
lawyer." He was selected by Democrats and Re- 
publicans as counsel for the first Committee on 
Crime ; to investigate and report on every De- 
partment of New York City. His commanding 
intellect brought him respect and admiration as 
well as large remuneration, but money seemed the 
last consideration of his notable career. Although 
continuing in active practice, his health was fail- 
ing, though not alarmingly. The end came sud- 
denly at a large family dinner part}', Christmas 
night, l8g6, and before midnight the bulletin 
boards outside the newspaper offices throughout 
the city were announcing the fact that the great 
lawyer had passed away. 

Caroline Drake married, first. Major Francis 
Preston Fremont, U. S. Army, the younger son 
of General John C. Fremont, known as "The 
Pathfinder," and Jessie Benton Fremont, daugh- 
ter of U. S. Senator Thomas Benton. — Issue, two 
children who died at birth and Francis Townsend 
Benton Fremont. She married, second, Major 
Surgeon Frank Thomas Woodbury, of Philadel- 
phia. They have been stationed in the Philippine 
Islands, and now at Fort Assinniboine, Mon. 
Mrs. Woodbury is the possessor of a beautiful 
soprano voice. EHzabeth Sivan married, first, 
Lieut. John Reynolds Totten, U. S. A.— Issue, 
John_ D,. who died at two vears of age. She 
married Second Lieut. Francis J. A. Darr, U. S. 
Army, son of General Darr. Lieut. Darr resigned 



from the Army, and they now reside at Gladstone, 
N.J. 

Margaret is the author of plays, books, and 
articles, and also edited a posthumous book 
written by her father, Hon. John D. Town- 
send, brought out by the Chamber of Com- 
merce of N. Y. City, called "New York In 
Bondage." April 27th, 1900, she married Giovanni 
Tagliapietra, member of a very old Venitian fam- 
ily; a graduate of the Technical School of San 
Giovanni Laterano, Venice, and graduate from 
the University of Padua as Naval architect. Cir- 
cumstances decreed he should not practice this 
profession, and he became, instead, the world- 
renowned baritone in grand opera, singing with 
all the great prima donne of the day. A line 
from one of his criticisms in the United States, 
is an indication of all— "To speak in praise of 
this baritone is to gild refined gold. Tagliapietra 
is easily the first baritone in America; his tri- 
umphs are to be counted by the number of his 
appearances, and these have been made under 
nearly every sun."— Issue, one child, died at birth. 
They reside in the old Townsend home, in West 
Thirty-fourth Street, N. Y. City, made famous 
for years by the great weekly musicales. and 
gatherings of noted persons that Mrs. Townsend 
and her daughters delighted in giving. 

Joseph Lawrence married Emily H. Tailer, of 
N. Y. City. A man of most lovable nature. He 
was in the insurance business and died before 
middle age. —Issue, Anna T. and John R. Anna 
T. married, first, Edward Pearsall Field, who 
married Gertrude M. Baiter. She married, sec- 
ond, Eugene M. Cole, of N. Y. City.— Issue,' Wil- 
mot L. They reside in New York City. John R., 
named after his paternal grandfather— John Rich- 
ard Townsend— a banker and broker, and a great 
lover of horses, having become a noted cross- 
country rider and four-in-hand driver, a member 
of many clubs and a social leader; married, first, 
Pauline Onativia, a beauty and an heiress. — Issue, 
Robert Tailer Townsend. He married, second, 
Virginia Orne, daughter of Benjamin Orne, Jan- 
uary i6th, igo7, a handsome woman and an heir- 
ess. They reside in New York City. 

Margaret married James R. Plum, of Troy, N. 
Y., in the leather business in N. Y. City, who 
rose rapidly to prominence, becoming one of New 
York's representative citizens. He is the Treas- 
urer of the U. S. Leather Co., trustee of various 
banks and member of several clubs. She died in 
middle age.— Issue, George Willard, in the bank- 
ing business in N. Y. C, unmarried. James R., 
who died in his twentieth year, and Caroline 
Townsend. named for her maternal grandmother. 
She married Daniel Nason, a man of prominent 
family and a noted lawyer.— Issue, James Rankin 
Plum and Mercy. Plum. They reside in N. Y. .C. 
Roseffa was born October 3d, 1S05, and married 
Joseph Lawrence, of Flushing, November 14th, 
1823.— Issue, Margaret, Harriet, Henry Effingham! 
Caroline, Thomas, Catherine and Isabella. 

Margaret married William T. Hicks. Harriet 
died unmarried. 
Jienry EtHngham married Lydia G. Underbill, 



108 




TOIiX URIIAKI) TOWNSICM). 
N\-w York Cily. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



a descendant of Captain John Underbill, of Oyster 
Bay, and his great-great-grandson, Rev. I'cler 
Underbill, the first pastor of the Baptist Church 
at Oyster Bay, who married Ethclena Townsend. 
— Issue, Edith, Margaret, Joseph, and Mary 
Trimble. 

Edith married George Edgins Chisolm and re- 
sides at Morristown, N. J.— Issue, John Rogers, 
Henry Lawrence, Donald Muhlenberg and Will- 
iam Edings. 

Margaret, unmarried. 

Joscj'h died. 

Mary Trimble married Louis Francois Michel 
Tonetfi, residing in N. Y. — Issue, Annette, Lydia, 
and Joseph. 

CAROLINE (daughter of Rosetta Townsend 
Lawrence), born March 14th, 1832, died November 
25th, 1898, married Rev. Howard Osgood, D.D., 
LL.D.— Issue, Ella, died in infancy ; Bradish, 
died in infancy; Howard Lawrence, Carrie 
Townsend, Florence, Henry, William Hicks, died 
unmarried; Jennie, Alfred Townsend, and Helen. 
Howard Lawrence married Katherine Rochester 
Montgomery, and resides in Rochester. — Issue, 
Howard, born July 27th, 1889, and Marvey Mont- 
gomery, born June, 1891. Carrie Lawrence, born 
April 20th. 1858, married Henry Lawrence Bo- 
gert, residing in Flushing, L. I. — Issue, Carrie 
Lawrence, married Francis Gordon Brown, Jr. — 
Issue, Francis Gordon. 3d, Henry Lawrence, Jr., 
Mary Ludlow, Edward and Osgood, Florence, 
born September 8th, 1861, married Belden Sey- 
mour Day, residence, Morristown, N. J. — Issue, 
Charlotte Seymour, born 1894 ; Howard Osgood, 
born 1896; Edward Belden, born 1902; and Flor- 
ence Belden, born 1904, Henry, born 1863. tnar- 
ried Florence Pelletreau Lansing. — Issue, William 
Hicks, born i88g. Jeanne, born 1870, married 
Rev. Tileston Fracker Chambers, residence Sara- 
toga, N. Y. — Issue, Helen Fracker, Caroline Law- 
rence, born 1899, and David Abbott, and Eliza- 
beth Fracker, twins, born 1902. .Alfred Towns- 
end. M.D., born 1872, resides in New York. 
Helen, born 1875, married Cornelius Schuyler 
Davis, residence Rochester, N. Y. 

Thomas Tounsend died unmarried. Catherine 
married Rev. Charles Tyler Olmsted, D.D. D.C.L., 
Bishop of Central New York. Residence, Utica, 
N. Y. 

Isabella, residing in New York, 

John S.. son of Richard, was born April 3d, 
177s, and died unmarried, January 26th, 1796. 

THOMAS, son of John and grandson of Rich- 
ard 2d, born 1732, married Mary Loines.— Issue, 
William, born Dec. 20, 1755. He moved to Corn- 
wall, N. Y., where he married Elizabeth Doughty. 

— Issue, Thomas, born , married Mercy 

Thorne. — Issue, James Thome Tonmsend. born 
Oct. 4. 1813. Married Hannah Cromwell, March 
31, 1840. — Issue. Mariana, Sarah Cromwell, 
Charles, Elizabeth, Julia, James, William, Edward 
Cromwell and Clara. Mariana, born March 7, 
1841, married James Birdsall, June 16, 1859. — 
Issue, William, born May 8, i860, married Mar- 
garetta Beller, Sept. 14, 1890. — Issue, Eleanor, 
Katherine and Charles Townsend, born .'Xpril 24, 
1864, died Aug. I, 1864. Francis, born July 15, 



186s, died Sept. 17, 1866. Helen, born March 25, 
1871. Married Dr. Woolscy Hopkins, Oct. 8, 
1891. Dr. Hopkins died Feb. 15, 1900, — Issue, 
Katherine Woolsey, Marion, Woolsey Rogers, 
Katherine Newbold, born April 29, 1873. Mr. 
Jarnes Birdsall, died March 14, 1873. Sarah Cmm- 
ivell, born Jan. 13, 1847, died Aug. 5, 1848. 
Charles, born Feb. 20, 1850, died May 15, 1856. 
Illizabelh. born July 10, 1852, married Henry R, 
Gordon, July 12, 1876. — Issue, Collingwood, born 
May 31, 1877, married Abbie Hoard Owen, Aug. 4, 
1904. — Issue, George Henry, born June 30, 190S, 
and Donald Collingwood, born Nov. 16, 1908. 
Robert, born Feb. 22, 1879. Mabel, born Aug. 9, 
1881. Douglas, born March 12, 1887, and Eliza- 
beth, born April 10, 1894. Mrs. Henry R. Gor- 
don and her family own and are now residing on 
part of the farm land in Cornwall, bought by Mrs. 
Gordon's great grandfather, William Townsend, 
in 1756. Julia, born Oct. 11, 1855, married Will- 
iam Herbert Baldwin, Jan. 13, 1881. — Issue, John 
Townsend, born March 7, 1882, died ; Her- 
bert, born June 30, 1885; Marion, born Oct. — , 
1886, died Nov. 21, 1897; James Cromwell, born 
Aug. 31, 1898, died May 3, 1904, and Julien, 
born July 11, 1901. James, born June 26, 1859, 
married Minnie Lipfield, May 3, 1882. — Issue, 
Edna Cromwell, born May 13, 1885; Bessie, born 
April 4, 1887; James Charles, born Nov. 14, 1888; 
Robert, born July 12, 1890; Thomas Cromwell, 
born Jan. 4, 1892; John, born Oct. 21, 1893; Kath- 
erine Birdsall, born May 31, 1896; Ralph, born 

Oct. 12, 1897, and William, "born . IP'illiaiii, 

born Sept. 9, 1861, married .-Xgnes Mitchell, July 
6, 1895. Edzi'ard Cromicell, born Feb. 5, 1864. 
Clara, born Dec. 20. 1865. 

Jacob S., son of Richard, was born June 26th, 
1783. He married Mary Seaman, of Merrick, L. 
I. — Issue. Samuel Seaman Townsend, William, 
Treadwell, Richard, Maria Amelia Townsend, 
Rosetta M. 

TREADWELL SEAMAN was the only son 
who married. His wife was Maria. — Issue, 
George W. 

GEORGE W. removed to Paterson, N. J., 
where he engaged and prospered in the real es- 
tate business. He is most highly thought of by 
the citizens of Paterson. and one of the pillars 
of the church. In 1S67 he married Sophia Au- 
gusta Sloan, of Bloomingdale. Passaic Co., N. J. 
—Issue, Annabelle, who married Gillispie. — Issue, 
Adelaide Townsend. 

ROSETTA M., daughter of Jacob, married 
Hon. Stephen Tabcr, of Roslyn, L. I.— Issue, one 
daughter, who married Walter R. Willcts, resid- 
ing at "The Homestead." Rosslyn, L. I. 

Maria Amelia, daughter of Jacob, married 
Charles Post, of Glen Cove, L. I.— Issue, one 
daughter, who married William Valentine. She 
still resides at Glen Cove. 

William S., son of Richard, was born August 
l6th. 17S8. He married Eliza Downing, of West- 
bury, and removed to Hillsboro, Illinois, where 
he died about 1854. 

Jackson S. was born August Sth. 1790. He 
married Phebe and Jemima, daughters of Hewlett 



loq 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Townsend.— Issue, by the first wife, Timothy; by 
the second, John J. and Phebe A. 

Timothy married Elizabeth Sexton. 

Phebe A. married, first, Alfred Cock (see Al- 
fred of Daniel, Chap. VII.) ; second, Jacob S. 
Underbill. 

RUTH married Samuel Titus.— Issue, Samuel 
and Stephen. , r.- , 

Samuel married, first, Mary, daughter of Rich- 
ard Townsend (see Richard, of John, Chap. 
XVII.) ; and second, Mary, daughter of Samuel 
Townsend. (See Samuel, of John, Chap. XVII.) 

Stephen married Betty Holmes. 

THOMAS was born in 1732, and married Mary 
Loines, who was born February 21st, 1734.— Issue, 
William, Anne, Jervis, Pamelia, John, Phebe, 
Obadiah, Sarah, and Mary. 

William was born December 20th, 1756, and 
married Elizabeth Doughty. He removed to 
Cornwall. — Issue, Mary, Elizabeth, and Thomas. 
Mary married Samuel Townsend. (See Samuel, 
son of Hcnrv 6th, Chap, X.) 

Anne was born May ist, 1759, and married 
Thomas Hanford, 1777. They removed to Nova 
Scotia.— Issue, Mary, Pamela, Anne, Rebecca, 
and Thomas. 

Jervis was born August 15th, 1761. John was 
born August 13th, 1765. These two died un- 
married. 

Pamela was born June 28th, 1763, and married 
Richard Underbill. — Issue, William, Jacob, Adoni- 
jah, Mary, Thomas, Phebe, James, Samuel, Cath- 
arine, Sarah, Alfred, and Rebecca. 

Phebe was born November 23d, 1767, and mar- 
ried Stephen Rushmore. This lady is one of the 
most remarkable persons whom we have ever 
known. She is now (March, 1864) in her ninety- 
seventh year, and sees and hears as well as most 
persons of seventy; employs herself in reading 
and sewing, making her own caps. It would be 
a great deal to say that she retains her mental 
powers perfectly, but that would convey a very 
inadequate idea of her without the addition of 
the fact that they were originally of a very su- 
perior order. We visited her to make inquiries 
about her family, and spent the day with her, 
and have rarely found so agreeable a companion. 
There is an archness, vivacity, and humor in her 
conversation perfectly charming. Her appear- 
ance does not in any way indicate her extreme 
age, her complexion being clear and fresh, and 
remarkably smooth. Extremely neat in her dress, 
she presents a most beautiful picture of old age. 
When she moves about, she takes the hand of 
some person to steady her. She is an Orthodox 
Friend, of deep piety, cheerfully waiting the com- 
ing of her Lord, and told us that every night 
she thought whether that would not be her last. 
She was, we are informed, a very active mem- 
ber of the Meeting, as we had inferred from the 
energy, decision, and ability which she now 
evinces. She has one hundred and twelve chil- 
dren, grand-children, great-grand-children, and 
great-great-grand-children, and she can tell the 
names of every one. Her husband died eleven 
years ago. They had lived together sixty-six 



years. During his life they resided at Wheatley, 
on the beautiful place now occupied by her son 
Townsend Rushmore, who is almost as young for 
his years (seventy-one) as his mother. Since her 
husband's death she has lived with her daughter, 
the widow of Edmund Post, at Westbury, whose 
family united with the old lady to make our visit 
of inquiry a delightful recreation. — Issue, Isaac, 
Sarah, Townsend, Mary, Jane, Thomas, and 
Phebe. 

Isaac married Lydia Post. — Issue, Stephen and 
Edmund. 

Saiali married John Hicks. — Issue, Lydia, Isaac, 
Samuel, Stephen, Valentine, and John. 

Tozvnsend married Amy Willis. — Issue, Esther, 
Maria, Isaac, Phebe, Samuel, Mary, and William. 

Ma)y married Edmund Post. — Issue, Henry, 
Robert, Lydia, Stephen, and Edmund. 

Jane married Valentine Willis. — Issue, Letitia, 
Phebe, Mary, and Sarah. 

Thomas married Jane Valentine. — Issue, Eliza- 
beth and Stephen. 

Phebe married Isaac Gifford. — Issue, William, 
Hannah, Robert, and Sarah. 

Obadiah was born June 7th, 1770, and married 
Phebe, daughter of Phebe Townsend and Joseph 
Lawrence. — (See Phebe, of Henry 4th, Chap. X.) 
— Issue, Mary, Joseph, Sally, Thomas, Effingham, 
and Lydia. 

Sally was born October 30th, 1772, and mar- 
ried William Burns. — Issue, Joseph. 

Mary was born March 20th, 1776, and married 
Jacob Wood. 

EfHngham Toumsend descended from Richard 
3d, was the head of a great Auction House in 
New York City, the firm Townsend & Montant. 
He married . — Issue, Emily, Har- 
riet, and Adelaide L. 

Emily married, first, Samuel Irvin. — Issue, E. 
Townsend Irvin. Married, second. Dr. John Mc 
G. Woodbury, at one time Commissioner Street 
Cleaning Dpt., N. Y. City. 

Harriet married Spofiford. — Issue, Ade- 
laide T. Spofford. 

Adelaide L. married William P. Douglas, of 
Douglaston Manor, L. I. — Issue, Miss E. S. 

Note. — Though Effingham Townsend was a 
cousin of the present compiler's grandfather, late 
John R. Townsend, she does not recall his full 
data and that of his children, and having been 
unable to obtain it, inserts the foregoing, which 
is imperfect. — M. T. (T.) 

SAMUEL, brother of Butte, married Elizabeth 
Smith, 1770. His daughter Mary married Sam- 
uel, son of ris sister Ruth, and Samuel Titus. — 
Issue. Sarah. Silvanus, Moses, Silvanus S., Phebe, 
Elizabeth. John, Joseph, Ruth, Alary, Benjamin, 
and Hannah. 

Benjamin married Mary Ann Bennet, June 26, 
1828.— Issue, Benjamin Bennet, born April 15, 
1827, and Samuel Titus, born April 20, 1830. 

Samuel Titus married Antoinette Augusta Olm- 
sted, April 20. 1852. — Issue, Mary Eliza, born 
Jan. 10, 1853 : Nora Antoinette, born Dec. 8, 1856, 
and Sherman Bennet, born Sept. 25, 1864. 

Sherman Bennet married Eugenia Frances 



110 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



Tankersley, Nov. 23, 1892.— Issue, Antoinette 
Pearl, born Sept. 11, 1893, and Charles Wesley, 
born March 16, 1902. 

Mary Elizabeth married Wm. Youle Frazee, 
Nov. 8, 1882.— Issue, Youle Townsend, born Oct. 
14, 1883, and Harold Townsend, born July i, 
1889. Benjamin Townsend, the subject of the 
Miniature, was an old-time City merchant promi- 
nent in the business and political affairs of New 
York, where he resided in the early part of the 
last century. He was on the Committee to re- 
ceive Lafayette upon the occasion of his last 
visit to New York, and represented the City at 
many public functions during that epoch. He was 
a member and pew holder of Saint Paul's, New 
York City, and was buried in the family lot of 
Saint George's Episcopal Church, Hempstead, 
L. I., with which parish the family had been 
connected for several generations. 

Joseph, son of Samuel, married Martha . 

— Issue, Sylvanus S. 

Sylvan Its S. married Sarah A. Frost, Dec. 5, 
1841. — Issue. Mary Louise, born Oct. 31, 1842. 
She married William Roswell Woodward, March 
5, 1867.— Issue, William Townsend, born April 17, 
1868, who died the same month, and Edward 
Sylvanus, born March 22. 1871. He married 
Mabel Constance Richards, April II, 1898.— Issue, 
Constance Louise, born June 11, 1902, and Audrey, 
born Jan. 13, 1905. Mrs. Wm. Roswell Wood- 
ward resides on her place "Raynham," Nyack-on- 
Hudson, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sylvanus 
Woodward reside at Ardsley-on-Hudson. 

MARY married Richard Hewlett.— Issue, 
Thomas, Richard, Joseph, Oliver, Sarah, Jane, 
Hannah, Phebe. Ruth, Charlotte, and Mary. 
Thomas died unmarried. 

Richard married Hannah Hewlett, 1778. 

Oliver married Titus. 

Sarah married Nostrand. 

Jane married Samuel Cornell, 1777. 

Hannah married, first, Watts; second, 

Peter Hendrickson. 

Phebe married Jacob Hicks. 

Ruth married Richard Townsend. 

Charlotte married Thomas Leonard. 

Mary married Stephen Hicks, 1777. 

TIMOTHY, SON OF RICHARD 2D, 

Was married to Sarah Hewlett, 1738.— Issue, 
Hewlett, Richard, Frcelove, and Ruth. The 
daughters died unmarried. 

HEWLETT married Annie Hewlett, of Mer- 
fick. — Issue, Timothy, Elizabeth, Hewlett, Ann, 
Richard, Mary, Sarah, Phebe, Jemima, Harriet, 
and George. The last died unmarried. 

Timothy married Abigail Mott. 

Elizabeth married Jacob Townsend. (See 
Jacob, of Prior, Chap. 'VII.) 

Hewlett married Ethelene Coles.— Issue, 
Sarah, Jane, Charlotte, Eliz.ibeth, Freelove, Har- 
riet, and Marie. Sarah married Daniel McCoun. 
Jane married John D. Hewlett. Charlotte married 
Philemon H. Frost. Elizabefh married John D. 
Hewlett. Freelove married Willet Weeks. Har- 
riet married Thomas Albertson. 

Anne married Benjamin Coles. 



Richard married Elizabeth Hewlett. — Issue, 
Stephen H., who married Jane Garvie. 

Stephen HeiL'ictt Townsend married Jean Watt 
Garvie, daughter of Dr. Thomas Garvie, who 
owned a large tract of land known as Garvie's 
Point, near Glen Cove Creek, 1835. He died Sept. 
7, 18S4, and his wife died 1899. — Issue, Elizabeth 
Helen, Thomas Garvie, George Hewlett, Mary 
Jean, William Henry, Louisa Hanford, John 
Moore, and Annie. 

Elizabeth Helen married Benjamin Hewlett Sea- 
man, of Merrick, L. I. — Issue, Jean Townsend, 
Hannah Hewlett, Louise Hanford, Mary Ann, and 
Sarah Elizabeth. Thomas Garvie died, unmarried, 
1908. 

George Hewlett married Frances, daughter of 
Jacob Smith, of Centre Island, and they reside at 
the old Townsend House at Glen Head, L. I. 

Mary Jean married Valentine Downing, of Ros- 
lyn, L. I.; IVilliam Henry married Rose Bell 'Van 
Sicklen ; Louisa Hanford married Stephen Tread- 
well Carman, of Amityville, L. I. ; John Moore, 
of Amityville, unmarried, and Annie married 
William B. Jenks, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 

John Moore Townsend, son of Stephen Hew- 
lett, of Glen Head, now residing in Amityville, 
L. I., contributes some interesting items from his 
branch of the family history. 

Speaking of his father, says he was regarded as 
an energetic, aggressive man of affairs. Besides 
his large farm, cultivated in the approved meth- 
ods of the day, he was largely interested in ship- 
ping, and had built on his own place at Glen 
Head as many as seven vessels of varying di- 
mensions. He converted one of the houses on 
his place into a school room, and engaging teach- 
ers, had his eight children properly tutored under 
his own guidance. 

Mr. Townsend calls attention to his own middle 
family name of Moore, often of such import in 
genealogical research — this one in especial^ con- 
necting a very historical family with the Town- 
sends. 

Elizabeth Hewlett Townsend, grandmother of 
John M., was descended through her mother, 
Mary Ann Hewlett, from the Moore family, who 
was the sister of Right Rev. Richard Channing 
Moore, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant PTpiscopal 
Church in the Diocese of 'Virginia, who was a 
descendant of Sir John A'loore, and so the name 
of Moore has been carried down through genera- 
tions in the Townsend family. 

The Cedar Swamp, now Glen Head Branch of 
the Townsend family, acquired large areas of land 
from the Indians ; and it is believed that the orig- 
inal Indian deed is now in possession of the 
descendants of Jotham and Deborah Kirk Town- 
send. The holdings of the Townsend family in 
this vicinity of Long Island have been and still 
are very large. The boundaries of the same will 
have here to be omitted for lack of space. 

In olden times, the Townsends, too, owned 
many slaves, their large tracts of land requiring 
many field hands to do the work. 

The products of the farm lands were said to be 
Indian com, rye, buckwheat, horses, horned cattle, 



III 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



sheep, swine, and an annual crop of young nig- 
gers. 

Upon the old Townsend homestead at Glen 
Head there were grown each year thousands of 
bushels of corn and many scores of swine. 

Asked by a city visitor, "Whatever do you do 
' with your immense store houses of corn?" 

"Why, I feed it to the hogs," answered Squire 
Townsend. 

"But whatever do you do with all those hogs?" 
pursued his visitor. 

"I feed them to the niggers, of course." 

The Cedar Swamp Townsends were noted for 
their well bred horses as well as for their mag- 
nificent oxen. It was Richard Townsend who 
bred and raised the largest ox at that time known 
to the New World. This splendid animal tipping 
the scales at over twenty-five hundred pounds was 
exhibited at various Fairs, and greatly astonished 
the farmers from different parts of the country. 

Mary married Robert Underhill. — Issue, Anne 
E., who married George Underhill. 

Sarah married Rowland P. Allen. 

Phebe married Jackson S. Townsend. — (See 
Jackson, of Richard, Chap. XVI.) — Issue, Tim- 
othy, who married Elizabeth Saxton. 

Jemima married Jackson S. Townsend. — Issue, 
John I. and Phebe A., who married, first, Alfred 
Cock ; second, Jacob Underhill. 

Harriet married Paris Mason. 

RICHARD married, first, Hewlett; sec- 
ond, Underhill. — Issue, by the first wife, 

Hewlett and Isaac ; by the second, a daughter who 
married Israel Horsfield. 

Isaac married Rebecca Schenck. 

SILVANUS, SON OF RICHARD 2D, 

Married Susannah Jackson and Letitia Hedges : 
it is not known which was the first wife. Le- 
titia was probably the last, and the mother of his 
children. — Issue, Silvanus, Ruth, and Letitia. 

SILVANUS married Theodosia Frost, Decem- 
ber, 1764. — Issue. Benjamin, Melancthon, Jacob, 
Silvanus, and Letitia. The last two died unmar- 
ried. 

Jacob removed to Port Jefferson, where his 
family now live. 

Benjamin married Mary Hill. — Issye, James, 
William, Isaac, and Elizabeth. James married 
Priscilla Meade. William married Elizabeth Mc- 
Coun. Isaac married Mary E. Cock. Elizabeth 
married Edwin Somarindyck. 

RUTH married Henry Dickinson, June 30th, 
1752. (See Henry, of Zebulon, Chap. XIII.) 

LETITIA married Benjamin Underhill, in 
1769. — Issue, Elizabeth and Townsend. 

Elizabeth married John B. Coles. (See John 
of Nathaniel. Chap. XII.) 

Townsend married, first, Almy, daughter of 
Dr. James Townsend, of Jericho, 'who died May 
I2th, 1790; and second. Eliza Thompson. — Issue, 
by the first wife, Benjamin T. ; by the second, 
Letitia, Louisa, Edwin W. 

Benjamin married Eliza Weeks, January 12th, 
3814.— Issue, Almy, Maria, James, Miriam, Eliza, 
and Townsend. James married Margaret Var- 
aum. Townsend married Mary Gage. 



Letitia married Robert R. Hunter. 
Louisa married Thomas Van Zandt. 

NOTE. 

The following copy from the original paper of 
Esquire George Townsend, of Norwich, now in 
the possession of his grandson, John Townsend, 
of Poughkeepsie, must have been written late in 
the summer, or early in the fall, of 1769: 

TO CHRISTOPHER TOWNSEND. 

"I make bold to write to you, and am but a 
stranger, although I am apt to believe that we 
both sprung from one family — no longer agone 
than our great-grandfathers. And if what I have 
heard — that you have had some desire to know 
the genealogy of our, or, I might have said, your 
family, which is what I have heard by Samuel 
Townsend, a kinsman of yours here, at Oyster 
Bay, is what hath occasioned the boldness that I 
have taken, being myself desirous of a further 
knowledge in that than I have been able to learn 
as yet, there not having been many of our name 
hereabouts since my time, very inquisitive about 
the history of our ancestors. And as Justice 
Samuel Townsend was telling me, some time 
agone, that a relation of his, in Rhode Island, 
Christopher Townsend by name, an elderly man, 
was very desirous to know something more of 
the genealogy of the Townsends than he then 
did ; and I now begin to be a man in years my- 
self, and am willing to send this to Rhode Island, 
to Christopher Townsend, to get him to inform 
me more than I know already. I shall take it as 
a kindness of you, and sliall be much obliged to 
you for it, after I have told you, by writing, that 
I have heard already from some of my old re- 
lations, by way of traditional account, and no 
other way. As early as the disturbance in Eng- 
land, in the time of King Charles the First, the 
first Townsend came into America, with a great 
number of others, on a religious account; and, as 
I have said before, those Townsends, our ances- 
tors, came three brothers — John Townsend, Henry 
Townsend, and Richard Townsend. Henry 
Townsend, the youngest brother but one, came 
first, and being a handy craftsman, came to some 
parts of Long Island, as it was and is still called, 
being one of the first men in these parts that 
ever erected a grist-mill, and in the town of 
Oyster Bay in particular. And as he had been 
used to the seas, as I have been told, he went 
home again to England* before he married, and 
then he came again. He married and settled in 
Oyster Bay, and after he was married, the young- 
est brother, Richard Townsend, came, a young 
rnan, and after some time, he married one of 
his brother Henry's wife's sisters — both Coles. 
And after some time came John Townsend, who 
was yours and my great-grandfather, who brought 
a wife and several children with them, and settled 
in this Town ; and here he lived and died, I be- 

• Henry did not go back to England. 



112 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



lieve, and left a large family, although there is 
not much mention made of his name on our 
Town Records for above one hundred years, for 
I find, as long agone as the year 1677, his oldest 
son, John Townsend, of Jericho, called senior, 
by reason of his brothers Henry and Richard 
had named each of them a son John, which I 
have heard mention made of by the name of Mill 
John, which was Henry's son. and Cape May 
John, which was Richard's offspring. And as 
for Jericho John, Senior, I suppose to be your 
grandfather, and he was the eldest son of John 
Townsend the ist, and my grandfather was 
George Townsend, the youngest of the sons but 
one, although there was five sons and three daugh- 
ters — the names I suppose you may know as well 
as I, which I don't know but by hearsay, they 
being dead before my time ; but I am acquainted 
with all their offspring, the names of the five 
brothers, John and Thomas Tow-nsend. as I sup- 
pose you might know, and James, George, and 
Daniel Townsend, and three daughters — Rose 
Weeks, afterward Hayden, and Mary Wright and 
Elizabeth Ludlam.* But to return to their father, 
John Townsend the ist. He came, an old man, 
into these parts, before the Town was purchased, 
and made large improvements, and was dead be- 
fore the Town Charter or Patent was taken. 
But there is a great deal of mention made of 
Elizabeth Townsend, his widow ; but what her 
maiden name was, or what country-woman, I 
don't know, but I have reason to believe that she 
was a Scotch or Irish, which I never could learn ; 
but our great-grandfather, her husband, came out 
of the County Norfolk, in England, near Nor- 
wich, which occasioned my grandfather and his 
brother James to name this place Norwich, where 
both purchased and improved lands before they 
died. And they died in what was and is still 
called the great sickness, which was seventy-two 
or seventy-three years agone the last winter ; and 
their father, John Townsend, had been dead a 
great many years, for my grandfather died in the 
house that his mother built after her husband 
died, and the date of that house, with the two 
first letters of her name, 

Elizabeth built the house in the year 1670, 
and my grandfather was born in this Town, and 
his youngest brother, Daniel, and most of his 
brothers and sisters were born in this country. 
This is the sum and substance of that I have been 
able to learn. My grandmother, that is my 
mother's mother, hath been dead eleven or twelve 



•Elizabeth married Gideon Wright. John bad no 
daughter Mary. 



years, who was a woman of about ninety years 
old, w-ho knew all the old settlers of this Town, 
such as our grandfathers and tlieir brothers and 
sisters, but not their father and mother. I make 
bold to call you kinsman. If you know any thing 
more than all that I have rehearsed, I should be 
glad to be informed. As for any of their old 
writings, I never saw any except what is on the 
Town Records. My grandfather being one of the 
youngest, and your grandfather the oldest, ij 
seems likely for him to have had some of his 
father's or mother's papers. And there was 
Thomas Townsend, a second son, who was i 
great writer in this Town while here ; and he 
removed to Rhode Island, and died there; and il 
hath been supposed that he left a great many 
papers in Rhode Island, that his children nof 
grandchildren never recovered them back again-j 
and as you are in those parts, you might perhaps 
have any manuscript or letter, if any had ever 
been preserved, of your great-grandfather and 
great-grandmother, coming into these American 
parts ; and when our great-grandmother died, all 
her husband's and her own papers fell into the 
hands of her sons John and Thomas, for I never 
saw or heard of any, for my part, and have made 
a large enquiry. My father was but small when 
his father died, so that I don't expect to learn 
any thing further here, but shall still press my 
enquiry in so doing. If I should ever chance to 
come to Rhode Island, I should endeavor to find 
you out for a further acquaintance ; but 

myself almost fifty-six years old, 
never having been much abroad, but having lived 
at Norwich, the same place that I now do and 
have done ever since my remembrance, being the 
place that my grandfather and his brother James 
gave name to, as aforesaid. Notwithstanding the 
improbability of my coming to see you, I desire 
and beg the favor of your calling to see me, if 
you should perchance travel in these parts again. 
I think I have heard my brother John say that a 
Christopher Townsend, a Rhode Island man, had 
been at his house some few years agone, who lives 
at Mamaroneck, in Westchester County. I have 
spent the most part of this day in meditating on 
the discourse that Justice Samuel Townsend and 
I had, within a fortnight or tliree weeks agone, 
and in writing these lines, in order to have them 
ready to send by Robert Stoddard, Justice Town- 
send's wife's brother, whom I saw yesterday, as 
he told me he should return in about a week's 
time ; and as I have not wrote so correct as I 
would have done had I had time, that I shall beg 
the favour of your receiving and accepting of the 
same under the most favourable construction." 



"3 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH 

TOWNSENDS 

BY MARTIN I. TOWNSEND, OF TROY, NEW YORK. 



Upon the conquest of England by the Normans 
in 1066, her lands were parcelled out by William 
amongst the military leaders by whose aid he had 
accomplished her subjugation. A very large es- 
tate in the northwesterly part of the county of 
Norfolk, in the neighborhood now called Rayn- 
ham, (River Home,) became the property of one 
De Haville. In iioo, a gentleman by the name 
of Ludovicus (Louis), came from Normandy, in 
the train of Henry I., and having married the 
daughter and only child of De Haville, settled 
upon his wife's paternal acres, and adopted the 
family name of Townsend. These lands passed, 
by inheritance, to Townsend's children, and the 
family held them not only entire but largely 
augmented after the lapse of eight hundred years 
from the time they were granted to De Haville. 
The family led the life of country gentry, 
until the year 1483, when the head of the house 
was appomted a Baron of the Court of Common 
Pleas (i. c. Judge) bv the badly celebrated Rich- 
ard HI. Upon the fall of Richard HI. on Bos- 
worth Field, in 1485, Henry VII., his successor, 
re-appointed Baron Townsend to the same station, 
and he held the office until 1498. In 1588, when 
the Spanish Armada threatened to annihilate 
Protestantism and the power of Elizabeth at one 
blow, Roger Townsend, the owner of the estates, 
and whose principal residence was at Raynham, 
in_ Norfolkshire, rallied, with the other brave 
spirits in England, about the banner of the Queen. 
He was a celebrated sailor, and, like Drake and 
Hawkins, brought his own ships into the service 
of his sovereign. So gallant was his bearing that 
he was knighted at the close of the struggle by 
the British Admiral, Lord Howard of Effingham.* 
A younger brother of this Roger (John Town- 
send) accompanied the British Expedition to 
Cadiz the next year, and won the honor of 
knighthood for his gallant conduct there. He 
was a distinguished member of Parliament in 
Elizabeth's reign. He represented the county of 
Norfolk. The family were zealous Protestants 
from the dawn of the reformation, and gave their 
influence for Protestantism and for the parlia- 
ment against Charles the First. One of the fam- 

•In Cromwell's report to Lenthal. Sneaker of Parlla- 
?/A' Z''''™ at Ross, county of Cork. November 14, 
lfa49. he speaks in high terms of commendation of the 
conduct of Colonel Townsend In the Parliamentary 
cause in the nelKhborhood of Baltimore, Castle Haven, 
etc., Where the estates were subsequently granted him. 



ily, Richard Townsend, held the rank of Colonel 
under Cromwell, and commanded the army in 
Cornwall which besieged and captured the castle 
of Pendennis. When Cromwell made his cele- 
brated campaign in Ireland, Colonel Townsend 
accompanieti hmi, and rendered such service in 
the cause as to induce Cromwell to bestow upon 
him a large estate in the county of Cork, which 
is held by his family at the present day. The 
principal seat of Col. Townsend's descendants is 
Castle Townsend, a promontory on the coast of 
Cork projecting into the Irish sea. Col. Town- 
send's descendants are very numerous in Ireland, 
and a full score of them may be found at the 
Irish bar, and another score in the offices of the 
Irish Episcopal church.-f In the anarchy which 
ensued upon the death of Cromwell, Horatio 
Tcjwnsend, the head of the house and the pro- 
prietor of Raynham Hall, exerted himself very 
effectually to secure the restoration of Charles II. 
to the throne, and thus won for himself and fam- 
ily a distinguished position at the British Court. 
The head of the house was created a Baronet in 
1617. Charles II. acknowledged the services of 
this Hor.\tio Townsend by raising him to the 
Peerage in 1661 by the title of Baron Townshend 
of Lynn Regis, and in 1682 advanced him to the 
dignity of Viscount Townshend of Raynham. 
Up to 1661 the family had borne the name of 
Townsend. The first Roger, created by Richard 
III. Baron of the Common Pleas, was called 
Townsend. His name stands for the sixteen years 
he was Judge, reported in the year books as 
"Townsend." Roger Townsend, knighted for his 
gallant conduct in the struggle with the Spanish 
Armada, is immortalized as "Roger Townsend." 
So we have conclusive evidence that the family 
from 1483 to 1588 spelled their name without the 
aspirate. Col. Richard Townsend, who carried 
the Townsend blood into Ireland in 1649, and 
his descendants in that country, spell their name 
in the ancient mode. The Townsends of the 
United States emigrated from England about 
1630 to 163s, thirty years before the spelling of 
their name had been disfigured by the fanciful 
title conferred upon an elder cousin. The Ameri- 
can Townsends were emigrants from Norfolk- - 

tSee Proude's History of England, vol. 12. page 
456. "Lord Henry Seymour came. too. and all the 
distinguished seamen, Hawkins, Drake, Frobisher, Pal- 
mer, Townsend. and numtwrs more whose names were 
only less Illustrious." 



114 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



shire, who, coming to Boston and Massachusetts 
Bay from 1630 to 1635, brought with them the 
zeal which had i^red their kmsmcn to noble deeds 
against Spain and Catholicism in the latter por- 
tion of the preceding century. Indeed, the hrst 
TowNSENDS who emigrated , to New England, 
held the most advanced sentiments of that day, 
and shared with Ann Hutchinson and Roger 
Williams the opinions which were supposed to 
endanger the peace of the colony. The lowN- 
SENDS who removed to Rhode Island and Long 
Island, were deemed unsafe citizens by the colony 
of Massachusetts Bay. It may be safely asserted 
that no English or American family have been 
more ready to aid the onvyard march of c'viliza- 
tion That branch of the family bearing the title 
of Viscount Svdney in 1783, characterizing the 
spirit of the race, adopted the motto droit et 
az-ant"-x\g\A and forward. The English family, 
since the American exodus, have p ayed a highly 
conspicuous role upon the stage of English his- 
tory Charles Townsend was a very prominent 
statesman in the reign of Queen Anne, and in 
the time of George First was Secretary of State 
and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. His second 
wife was a sister of the celebrated statesman, Sir 
Robert Walpole, and he bore a prominent part in 
the political controversies in which that states- 
man figured. George Townshend attained high 
position in the British army. He fought at Det- 
tingen and at Fontenoy, and upon the fall ot 
General Wolfe upon the Plains of Abraham be- 
fore Quebec, succeeded to the command of the 
British army, and received the surrender of that 
celebrated fortress. His brother, Horatio fell at 
Ticonderoga while acting as Adjutant -General 
under Lord Amherst in I7S9- Another brother, 
the celebrated Charles Townshend, was one of 
the most distinguished statesmen and orators that 



England has ever produced. He died young. 
He married Caroline, the daughter of the Duke 
of Argyle.* In 1787 General Townshend, above 
named, was further honored by being created 
Marquis Townshend, in the county of Nor- 
folk. There are, in the year 1870, three members 
of this family in the House of Peers: the Mar- 
quis Townshend, the Viscount Syunev, and 
Baron Bayning. The latter gentleman has now 
assumed the family name of Powlett, although he 
is a Townshend of the full blood. The Vis- 
count Sydney, following the uniform traditions 
of his family, is a liberal in politics, and under 
the Gladstone administration is Chamberlain of 
the Queen's household. The present Duke of 
Buccieuch is half Townshend, being a son of the 
daughter of the late Viscount Sydney. The 
Duke of Leeds is the son of Charlotte Towns- 
hend. The Baron Ventry in the peerage of Ire- 
land, is also half Townsend of the old Crom- 
wellian stock. The Bishop of Meath is also a 
Townsend, of the same stock, and of the full 
blood. Both the English and the Irish Towns- 
ends have always been conspicuous for their ad- 
vantageous matrimonial alliances, for the preser- 
vation and improvement of their estates, and for 
their liberal and enlightened patriotism. In con- 
clusion, it may be affirmed that the Townsend 
family have borne a very prominent part in the 
history of the English race for the last four hun- 
dred years, and have shared in all the vicissitudes 
of that people in the British Islands, as well as 
in America, during the eight hundred years which 
have elapsed since the conquest of England by the 
Norman branch of our Scandinavian ancestors. 



•This Is the Charle:; Townsend, of whom liurko 
said, in the House of Commons : "He was the Idol of 
this house, and the ornament of every social circle 
which bo honored with his presence." 



"5 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



THE UNDERHILL AND TOWNSEND FAMILIES 



A HISTORICAL SKETCH 



BY HON. ISAAC TOWNSEND SMITH. 



Delivered at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Uunderliill Society of America held 
at Friends' Meeting House, East 20th Street, (Gramercy Park), Manhattan 
N. Y. city, on Saturday, May i8th, 1901, being the 271st Anniversary of the 
arrival of Captain John Underhill in the ship "Mary & John," in Boston 
Harbor. 



The bay of Massachusetts is a noble inlet of 
the sea. In heroic incident from an early period 
of our history it presents a brilliant and romantic 
chapter, unequalled in the annals of any other 
section of the Atlantic seaboard, and although a 
small part of the United States, it is a large and 
impressive factor in the history of the country. 
It was this magnificent expanse of water that gave 
the name of Bay State to Massachusetts. 

Sheltered by the promontory of Cape Cod the 
first Pilgrim bark, the Mayflower, after a tempes- 
tuous voyage, found anchorage and shelter in a 
fair haven they called Provincetown, from 
whence, after repair to their shattered vessel, and 
exploring and examining the coast, they sailed 
across the bay, made a landing and settlement, 
which they called Plymouth. 

On the northern side of the bay, at Cape Ann, 
stands a lighthouse, which, with another opposite 
at Cape Cod, like mighty gate-posts, Pillars of 
Hercules, are conspicuous beacons by day and 
guides by night to ships outward bound, or in- 
ward to ports within the bay. 

Fringed along its shores since the advent of the 
Mayflower, there have risen cities and towns of 
more or less interest and importance. Of such is 
Salem, which became eminent as a literary center 
and for its commercial activity during many years 
of Its early history; and Gloucester, long famous 
for Its fisheries; and Marblehead, with its secure 
h.arbor, into which the frigate Constitution ran, 
when in the War of 1812 she was chased by the 
British fl^et; and Hingham, which was noted in 
Its early days for its manufacture of buckets and 
brooms; and Lynn, celebrated for its shoes— 
'Everybody in Lynn," it was said, "made shoes 
except the Minister," "he made boots," went one 
better. But if you saw those places to-day, with 



their beautiful, costly residences, you would hardly 
suppose that "buckets and brooms" and "boots 
and shoes had done it; and Newport and 
Swampscott, Nahant and Beverly, all have been 
engaged in commerce, and were also, with the 
other towns named, nurseries for seamen in the 
War of the Revolution and that of 1812 

And there too, is Marshfield, memorable as 
the summer home in the lifetime, and now the 
resting place of the honored remains of Daniel 
VVebster ; and Plymouth, the settlement and home 
ot the tirst company of one hundred Pilgrims 
of whom one half died from their hardships and 
sufferings the first year, the most of them in one- 
fourth of that time, and when the ship went back 
in May, not one of the little band returned in 
her, they devotedly stood by each other No 
man can read of the heroic devotion of this little 
band without supreme emotion. Rufus Choate 
aft^ visiting their burial-place, thus describes 

"It was on a bank somewhat elevated near and 
looking upon the waves, a symbol of what life had 
been to them, ascending inland and above the 
rock symbol also of the 'Rock of Ages,' on 
which the dying had rested in the final hour; 
there were buried, the first Governor, and Rose 

he wife of Miles Standish. 'You will go to 

them, said Robinson, 'they cannot come to you.'" 

And at the head of the bay is the City of Bos- 

?": , ^"e .golden dome of the State House, the 
stately edifices, steeples, pinnacles, parks and 
Common proclaim it to b; the capital of the 
grand old Bay State, the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, built on three hills. Beacon Hill 
i-ort Hill and Copp's Hill, where I was born on 
March the twelfth, 1813. Opposite north, across 



116 




ISAAC TOWNSIC.M) SMITH, 
His Siamese Majesty's Consiil-Gcncral for Uiiilcd Slates. 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Charles river, are Charlestown and the Navy 
Yard, and Bunker Hill with its monumental shaft 
pointing heavenward. The topography of the 
shore of the Bay is aptly described in the folk- 
lore of my boyhood days : 

"Marblehead is a rocky place, 
Cape Cod is all sandy. 
Boston is a handsome place, 
Yankee doodle dandy." 

Very different from this picture of comfort 
and wealth of to-day, was the aspect to the 
weather-beaten Pilgrims, as they entered the bay 
on that bleak December day in 1620. There was 
neither lighthouse, beacon nor buoy to mark the 
channel and indicate the course to steer it ; it is a 
perilous undertaking even now, with a pilot and 
light ship, and one of their vessels, following the 
"Mayflower," w-as wrecked off Cape Cod. The 
vessel grounded on a sandy shoal, from which 
she could not be floated. The sand speedily 
washed about and over her. The passengers and 
crew, with cargo, were taken by boats to Prov- 
incetown, where the "Mayflower" had found shel- 
ter. This imprisoned ship, thus interred under 
the sand, hermetically sealed for about two hun- 
dred and fifty years, was, by the turn of the cur- 
rent of the ocean returning to its original channel 
released from its long confinement. She came 
up sound as a nut to the astonishment of the 
people of Provincetown. After some battling 
with the billows, they succeeded in securing the 
hull entire by taking it apart, and bringing it to 
land. This vessel, a relic of the past, excited 
great interest. It was taken to Boston, put to- 
gether for e.xhibition and set upon the Common, 
where I saw it, went aboard, and walked the 
deck where the old pilgrims had walked, and sat 
in the cabin of a vessel that had been, so to say, 
a consort of the "Mayflower." 

Among those who came to Boston in the Pil- 
grim ships with Governor Winthrop was Captain 
John Underbill, on April 7th, 1630, under an 
agreement to train the militia of this new settle- 
ment and make plans for public protection. Cap- 
tain John Underbill was to this Colony what 
Miles Standish was to Plymouth. Boston gave 
Captain John Underbill a pension for his ser- 
vices against the Indians in 1643. He left Bos- 
ton and came to New York under convictions of 
duty. 

Winthrop brought grave charges against Roger 
Williams. This Underbill could not brook, and 
was so incensed that, with others, he remonstrated 
with the authorities, and with Vane, a Puritan of 
the Puritans, warmly supported Mrs. Anne Hut- 
chinson and her brother-in-law, the pious John 
Wheelwright, who arrived in 1634 from Atford, 
near Boston, England. Public sentiment is now 
emphatically with Captain Underbill, Roger Will- 
iams and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, in their views 
of freedom of thought and speech on matters per- 
taining to church and state affairs. Whittier 
writes of Captain Underbill : — 



He coveted not his neighbor's lands, 

From the holding of bribes le shook his hands. 

And through the camp of the heathen ran, 

A wholesome fear of the valiant man. 

He cheered his heart as he rode along. 

With the sacred Scripture and holy song. 

In my investigation of the genealogical record 
of the Underbill Family I find much to interest 
me. 

Captain John Underbill, by his second wife, 
had five children, one of whom, a daughter De- 
borah, married Henry Townsend. My mother 
was a Townsend, by the branch of the family that 
settled in Massachusetts. All the American 
Townsends are allied, being descended from one 
stock, that of Admiral Roger Townsend, wko 
went with his own ship into the fight against the 
Spanish Armada, and was knighted on board his 
ship for gallant and distinguished services. 

I find the records still further interesting: — 
that another daughter of Captain Underbill, 
Elizabeth, married Isaac Smith, of Hempstead, 
L. I., which brings my entire name, Isaac 
Townsend Smith, into this family record. My 
branch of Smiths, also from England, settled in 
New Hampshire, "an excellent place to be born," 
Mr. Webster, having been himself born there, 
said, "provided you leave it soon enough." My 
father left New Hampshire early in life, 
went to Boston, where he married Eliza Towns- 
end. He became a prosperous merchant and left 
a good estate, and reared a family of six chil- 
dren, of whom I am the only survivor. I feel 
therefore, without studying up the pedigree fur- 
ther, that I am unmistakably in the Underbill 
Family, as a cousin certainly, although perhaps a 
distant one. I at one time invited a young 
Chinaman, a literary man, to dine with me; the 
following day he came promptly and brought 
with him another of his countrymen. They 
looked so much alike, with their almond shaped 
eyes, long black queues, yellow skin, and shoes 
shaped like a Chinese junk, that I said, "Your 
brother?" "No," said he; then I asked, "Your 
cousin?" "Yes, yes," he replied, with a merry 
twinkle of the eye, "sixty-seventh." Wilhin a 
radius of sixty-seven, I may then venture to be- 
lieve that I have a name and a place within the 
circle of the Underbill Family. 

The Underbills are an old English family and 
were of standing and character long before her- 
aldry v.'as established in England. Heraldry was 
originated by Henry V. in 1419. But early as 
1274 the name of William Underbill appears in 
a commission appointed by Henry HI., and con- 
tinued by Edward I., to inquire into the landed 
possessions of the kingdom. In 1500 we find 
Robert Winter conveying property in Huning- 
ham to John Underbill, on the river Trams, four 
miles from Kcnnclworth in Warwickshire. This 
John Underbill (son of Thomas) married Anne, 
daughter of Robert Winter, an heiress, whose 
son Edward was grandfather to John Underbill 
of America. He went to London and was made 
a gentleman pensioner. 

"7 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



During the reign of Elizabeth the Underbills 
were in great prosperity and employed in con- 
fidential olSces; they became connected with some 
of the best families, and attained the honors of 
knighthood. Sir Edward Underbill was knighted 
in January, 1612. He was High Sheriff 1637-38. 

Many literary productions have emanated from 
the Underbill Family. Wm. Underbill was Sec- 
retary and one of Queen Mary's Board of Gentle- 
men Pensioners, who were chosen from the flower 
of England's nobility and gentry, and during the 
whole of Elizabeth's reign to serve in its ranks 
was a distinction worthy the ambition of young 
men of the highest families and most brilliant 
prospects. And all the way down the pages of 
history I find that Underbills filled the offices of 
Barons, Bishops, Queen's Chaplains, Magistrates, 
Secretaries, and other positions of honor and 
confidence. 

Sir John Underbill was the friend and com- 
panion of Lord Leicester, and he was sent from 
Holland by Lord Leicester to Queen Elizabeth 
with confidential communications, with which it 
was said a romance was connected. 



THE TOWNSEND FAMILY. 

The family of the Townsends being by inter- 
marriage connected with the Underbills, the his- 
toric position of the Townsend f'amily is of in- 
terest in that connection, and to make the his- 
tory complete. 

Upon the conquest of England by the Nor- 
mans in 1066, the lands were parcelled out by 
William to the military leaders by whose help 
he was victorious. A very large estate on the 
northwesterly part of the county of Norfolk, in 
their neighborhood now called Raynham (River 
Home), became the possession of one de Haville. 
In HOC a gentleman by the name of Ludocishs 
(Louis) came from Normandy in the train of 
Henry I., and having married the daughter and 
only child of de Haville, settled upon his wife's 
paternal acres and adopted the family name of 
Townsend. These lands passed by inheritance 
to Townsend's children, and the family held them 
not only entire but largely augmented after the 
lapse of eight hundred years from the time they 
were granted to de Haville. 

In 1 183 the head of the house was a Baron of 
the Court of Common Pleas. In 15S8, when the 
Spanish Armada threatened to annihilate Protes- 
tantism and the power of Elizabeth at one blow, 
Roger Townsend, the owner of the estates, was a 
celebrated sailor, and with Drake and Hawkins 
brought his own ships into the service of his 
sovereign. He was knighted for his gallantry by 
the British Admiral Lord Howard. 

In 1603 Robert Townsend was Knighted by 
King James I. 

The Townsends have been one of the most 
distinguished families in English history, and 
have numbered in their ranks Secretaries of 
State, Lord Chief Justices, Members of Parlia- 
the Realm, and have been distinguished in the 



Army as Generals and Governors ol forts; in 
the Navy, besides the first naval hero Roger 
Townsend of Armada fame, there have been 
Admirals of the White and Admirals of the 
Blue. George Townsend took to a maritime life 
and distinguished himself in several actions dur- 
ing the war with France, 1724. As Commodore 
of a squadron of His Majesty's ships in the West 
Indies, he took a large fleet of French merchant 
ships; in 1765 he was appointed Admiral of the 
White and in 1766 Admiral of the Blue. 

Augustus Townsend made several voyages to 
China as Supercargo and Captain in the service 
of the East India Company, in which situation 
he died at Batavia in the Island of Java about 
1766. In the like manner, as Supercargo of a 
ship in those far off seas I went into Batavia in 
183s, and like my kinsman Augustus Townsend 
was taken sick of fever and went to the hospital, 
but more fortunate than my predecessor and 
cousin, I recovered sufficiently to be taken aboard 
my ship, then ready for sea, and on the voyage 
home regained my health. 

John Townsend was elected to Parliament, and 
went with the Earl of Essex to the invasion of 
the Spanish possessions ; in 1606 was knighted. 
He became a leading member of Parliament. 

The next Sir Roger Townsend was created 
a Baronet by King James I., in 1617. In the 
third year of the reign of Charles I. he was 
elected one of the Knights of the County of 
Norfolk and Sheriff of the County. He built a 
grand stately mansion at Raynham, the family 
seat. He died in 1630, age 41. 

Sir Horatio Townsend as soon as he was of 
age took part in public affairs, and attained great 
influence from his wisdom and sagacity. Lord 
Clarendon said that he used his noble wealth and 
credit in furnishing arms and ammunition for 
the King's service. Lord Willoughby and others 
of influence were drawn to his side, and King 
James II., in appreciation of his services, ad- 
vanced him to the dignity of a Peer of the Realm 
by the title of Baron of Lynn in 1661, and shortly 
after constituted him Lord Lieutenant of the 
County of Norwich, and further advanced him 
to the title of Viscount Townsend of Raynham. 
On his death in 1687, his son, second Viscount 
Charles Townsend, took his seat in the House of 
Peers, December 3rd, 1697, and in 170.2 was con- 
stituted Lord Lieutenant of the City and County 
of Norfolk; and in 1709 with the Duke of Marl- 
boro was appointed plenipotentiary to treat for 
peace with France. In 1714 he was sworn as 
principal Secretary of State; in 1716 he resigned 
the Seal of Secretary of State, and in 1718 was 
appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which he 
declined. In 1720 he was appointed President 
of the Council, and the same year one of the 
Lord Justices, and again made principal Secretary 
of State, and in 1723 one of the Lord Justices of 
Great Britain, and in 1724 appointed Knight of 
the Most Noble Order of the Garter and was 
installed at Windsor. He attended the King at 
ment. Lord Lieutenants of Ireland, and Peers of 
Hanover, and peace being settled in Europe, he 
retired to his family seat at Norfolk. 



118 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



Charles Townshend* married Caroline, sister of 
the Duke of Argyle. He was one of the most 
distinguished statesmen and orators England ever 
produced. Edmund Burke said of him— "He was 
the idol of the House of Commons and the 
ornament of every social circle which he honored 
with his presence." It was said that he could 
carry the house when Burke failed to move it. 

In direct descent from this Charles Townshend 
and Caroline of Argyle his wife is the present 
Marquis Townshend, who is first cousin to Her 
Royal Highness the Duchess of Fife, the daugh- 
ter of King Edward VH. 

The INIarquisate of Townshend is one of the 
most ancient as well as the most distinguished in 
England. 

The first marquisate was that of Westminster, 
created about the year 1500. That of Lansdowne 
was the second, and that of Townshend the 
third, so that the present Peer takes precedence 
of all the others except the two mentioned. 

In connection with our own history, it is a 
curious fact that the Charles Townshend who as 
Chancellor of the E.xchequer advocated the pas- 
sage of the stamp act and the tax on tea, was 
on my side the tory ancestor of my children, 
while on the side of their mother (Elizabeth 
Palmer Putnam) their great grandfather was the 
patriot Major Joseph Pierce Palmer who, as one 
of the leaders of the famous Boston Tea Party, 
threw the shipload of taxed tea overboard in 
Boston Harbor December 16, 1773. He was the 
son of Major General Palmer, President of the 
first Revolutionary Congress in Boston. 

In the record of the Underbill Family we 
have seen that a connection with the Townsends 
was made by a daughter of Captain John Under- 
hill marrying Henry Townsend. We now find in 
the records of the Long Island Townsends that 
Malcom Townsend married Emma Virginia Cox, 
a descendant of Samuel Cox who married Anne 
Underbill, making a double connection. 

The Townsends in the United States emigrated 
from Norfolk, England, from 1630 to 1635. They 
brought with them the zeal that had inspired their 
kinsmen to noble deeds against Spain in the latter 
part of the preceding century. They held indeed 
the most advanced sentiments of that day and 



•The name Is usually spelled in England Town- 
shend, in the U. S. Townsend. 



sympathized with Roger Williams and Anne 
Hutchinson and others, and were not in harmony 
with the persecuting spirits in the colony. Brooks 
Adams, in his Emancipation of Massachusetts, 
states that Roger Williams' controversy with the 
authorities was two-fold. He maintained that 
the land of the Indians should not be taken with- 
out purchase. The old Puritans held that the 
earth was the garden of the Lord, and peculiarly 
the heritage of the saints, that they were the 
saints, and wherever they saw land that was not 
fenced and waving with corn, they had a right to 
take it. 

Roger Williams said, "Nay, no more than they 
had to go into a gentleman's park in England, 
and occupy a part of it." His views on church 
order were also obnoxious. He maintained that 
a Church should be composed of believers and 
that unconscious infants were not fit subjects. 
He was accordingly banished. In protest against 
religious persecution the Underbills and Town- 
sends appear to have been in sympathy and stood 
together. 

It is interesting to those holding liberal views 
to note the change of sentiment in Massachu- 
setts as shown by the recent Legislature, which 
rescinded the obnoxious acts and passed another 
rehabilitating those who were banished. It is to 
the credit of the State to remove that stain upon 
its character, although futile to relieve the un- 
fortunate victims of its persecution. 

Are these memorial observances of distin- 
guished family history of any interest and im- 
portance to the community at large? Certainly, 
very much so in the instruction and stimulus it 
gives to patriotic deeds. A community is made 
of individuals, and I need not say that the better 
the quality of the individual the more excellent 
and enduring are the institutions of the country. 
These grand men are the foundation and frame- 
work on which the social and political fabric 
may securely rest. Coming down from genera- 
tion to generation with a hi.story of public virtue 
and private worth, a community may well feel 
favored to have with them such examples as 
guarantees of the stability of their institutions. 

We find among the descendants of the Town- 
send family the name of Governor Alonzo B. 
Cornell of "Ithaca, in the State of New 'Vork, a 
most valuable public spirited citizen— the son of 
Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University. 



119 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 

BROKEN AND UNTRACED BRANCHES 



CHARLES B. TOWNSEND, Lieut. U. S. Army. Philippine Scout, Manila, P. L Date of 
rank, Dec. i8, 1907. Company 24. Ancestors, English. 



ISAAC TOWNSEND, born in Wayne Co., N. 
Y., removed to and settled at Concord, Jackson 
Co'., Michigan, in the early thirties, where he died 
in the si.xties. Married a Miss Penny.— Issue, 
James Weeden, Harriet, Mary, Roxy and Abbey. 
Harriet married Roswell Webster. Mary married 
Thaddeue Wade. Abbey married Jesse L. Par- 
meter. Roxy died unmarried. James Weeden 
married Eunice Parmeter.— Issue, Viola, James, 
Isaac, Charles Elroy and Jesse Elton. Hon, Charles 
Elroy Townsend is the sole surviving member. 
He was born 1856. Attended Un. of iNlich.. a law- 
yer. A member of the Sixtieth U. S. Congress. 
Married Rena Padock. No issue. Resides in 
Jackson, Mich. 

CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, a well-known 

Kentucky journalist, deceased. Married ; — . 

Issue, John Wilson, born in Lexington, Ken., 
Nov., 18S5. Entered Kentucky Un., 1902, four 
years. Courses in history and literature at Har- 
vard Un., 1907. A successful biographer and 

essayist. , .. . . ,, 

EDWARD TOWNSEND, family originally 
from N. Y. S., removed to Toronto, On. Mar- 
ried . Issue, T. G. Townsend, who mar- 
ried . Issue, J. C. Townsend, now resid- 
ing in Detroit, Mich. 

TOWNSEND, married A. H. de 

Haven, head of a banking firm in Wall Street, 
N. Y. C. Resides at Ocean Grove, N. J. 

SAIMUEL B. TOWNSEND, of Oyster Bay, 
L I., married . Issue, William J. Town- 
send. Married . Issue, Mrs. Walter S. 

Waterburv. residing at Tarrytown-on-Hudson, and 
Mae- E. Townsend, residing with her uncle, Ed- 
v.<;u H. Townsend, at Auburn, N. Y. 

WILLIAM J. TOWNSEND, residing in Cleve- 
land, Ohio. . , , 

ISAAC TOWNSEND, residing in Maine, had 
a brother Nathan who settled in Batavia, N. Y. 
Isaac married Clarissa Copeland. Issue, Copeland, 

born at Noridgewalk, Me. Married — . 

Issue, Copeland. born at Oconomowac, Wis., 

Nov.. 1859. Married , daughter of a 

southern army officer of distinction. He is a 
very prominent hotel man, at present managing 
"The Imperial," N. Y. C. 

H S TOWNSEND, residing at Buffalo. N. Y. 

CHARLES H. T. TOWNSEND, residing at 
Melrose Righlands. Mass. 

HOWARD C. TOWNSEND, an active busi- 
ness man of Harrisburg, Pa. Married 

Freeman. — Issue, one son in business in New 
York. 

MRS. WM. A. TOWNSEND, St. Louis, Mo. 

HON. CHARLES F. TOWNSEND, Justice 
in Court of Special Sessions, Weedport, N. Y. 
Married . — Issue, Fred Blair, a practicing 



attorney at Syracuse, N. Y. 



JOHN TOWNSEND, bom 1770, in South 

Carolina, died i860. Married . Issue, 

George W., born 1810, at South Carolina, died 
at Texas, 1883. Married . Issue, Will- 
iam Kelly, connected in business with the Trust 
Co. of Dallas, Texas. 

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, came to America 
from Herefordshire, England, about 1835, and 
settled in Ohio, where he was later joined by 
two of his brothers, John and Simon. A fourth 
brother, Richard, lived and died at Colford, Eng- 
land, leaving no issue. William Townsend mar- 
ried — ^. Issue, seven sons, of whom three 

died. Living are, T. B., Isiah, Samuel and 
Francis. T. B. Townsend married . Is- 
sue, Orville N. and one daughter, married. T. 
B. Townsend's nephews are Grant Townsend, 
William, Harry and Frank V. Mr. Townsend is 
a heavy contractor and manufacturer of prom- 
inence at Zanesville, Ohio, where he and his 
family reside; and he is also the proprietor of 
Rockland Stock Farm, a large ranch in Marion 
Co., Kan. 

JAMES TOWNSEND, came to America 
about 1805 from the north of Ireland, a widower 
with two children, George and Jane. He bought 
a farm at Fairfa.x, Va., where George grew up 
and became a school teacher. Jane died. James 
married, second, Nancy Mcintosh. Issue, James, 
John, William, Colin, Alexander, Charles, iVIar- 
garet, Angeline, Barbara, Elizabeth, Katherine 

and Adelaide. William married . Issue, 

A. B. and Nannie B., residing at Portland, 
Oregon. 

ANTHONY TOWNSEND, born at Halifax, 
Nova Scotia, of English parents, July, 1800. Mar- 
ried . Issue, fifteen children, one daugh- 
ter marrying a Townsend of Lounsburg, Cape 
Breton ; another daughter, Hattie A., married 
Chas. H. Webster, of Anthony, R. I. Mr. and 
Mrs, Webster reside at Rochester, N. Y. 

THEODORE F. TOWNSEND, is attached 
to the Weather Bureau Service, P. O. Building, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 

SAMUEL JACKSON TOWNSEND, married 
Mary Hagerty. Issue — Wm, Thomas. He was 
prominent in the Revolutionary War from N. 
Y. S„ and was first paymaster to a Co. in his 
State. He was at Fort Schuyler, and later in 
the battle of White Plains, At the close of the 
War was with Gen. Marion in South Carolina. 
He located in Georgia, removing in 1812 to Ala- 
bama. He was Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Jackson 
at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend (Indiana). 

WM. THOMAS, married Sarah Zimmerman, 
Issue — Kintchen Alford, who married Cornelia 
Howard. Issue — Tallulah, who married J. G. 
Moore, and resides in Birmingham, Alabama. 

120 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHfiND 



ADDENDA 

(By Courtesy of Mortimer Delano, Pursuivant-of-Arms (Extracts). 
1st. The Inherited Right to Bear Coat-Armor in America. 



At the time the English began the settlement of 
America, there were two classes of people in 
England, from one of which came eventually the 
Puritans, from the other the Cavaliers. 

The first made New England ; the latter formed 
the Virginia Aristocracy. 

Many of the settlers were gentlemen ; both 
classes included descendants of the best families 
of their respective countries — men of high edu- 
cational attainments representing the various 
learned professions. 

Some were graduates of Cambridge or Oxford ; 
others, younger sons seeking a new home, either 
as bachelors or family men. 

A large proportion of the early settlers were 
not only entitled to bear coat-armor, but were 
punctilious in its use. 

These are the families represented in the early 
history of heraldry in America. 

The position assumed by this select few has 
stimulated research in genealogy and heraldry — 
the same right being continually established by 
other .'\mcrican families. 

Intercourse was, as we all know, maintained 
with the old home and old friends, as well as 
the slow means of communication would permit. 

What is said in this regard to New England 
may be applied to the plantations of Rhode Is- 
land, Virginia, the City of New Amsterdam, and 
its great outlying estates ruled over by the Pa- 
troons, the Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, and 
Carolina grants, and the Louisiana settlements, 
with the aristocratic French emigrees. 

Out from this varied lot of European names 
and families came the American Nation. 

One finds that the settlers who bore the coat- 
armor pertaining to their families, not one, prob- 
ably, had the intention or desire to alienate the 
new lands from the protection of the crown. 

They were loyal to the fatherland — over a cen- 
tury must pass before the break would begin. 
Why should they? Their old homes held many 
and dear relatives. Alone in a wild land their 
thoughts would naturally dwell on old ways and 
home customs, many of which they reestablished 
in the new land. 

That the use of coat-armor was one of these 
imported old home customs becomes apparent to 
all who take the trouble to study the cvery-day 
history of Colonial times. 



There was also constant influ.x of Europeans 
into the plantations and colonics, bringing the 
latest news and fashions, keeping alive the in- 
terest in European life and customs, and all this 
aided to continue the use of official and family 
coat-armor. 

The French Huguenots added their ancestral 
armes to the growing role of American heraldry. 
Puritan and Cavalier both respected and looked 
to their fatherland. 

Differing in religion, they both accepted the 
custom long established by usage of coat-armor, 
as seen in their seals, bookplates, stained glass 
windows and tombstones. 

To them the coat-of-arms was the one mark 
of esteem which all in a family might use, show- 
ing thereby that inseparable bond of kinship. 

They were animated by a pardonable pride to 
possess one thing, by right of lineal discent, which 
could not be taken away, stolen or used by an- 
other. 

The fact is indisputable that the different fam- 
ilies retained their surnames as used by them 
before the establishment of the Republic. 

No thought was ever entertained of doing other- 
wise, and coat-armor, including the crest, is the 
direct personal attachment of a name. 

Up to 1775 the United States was under the 
Crown, having royal governors for each colony. 
Thus, all official business, deeds, records and 
papers requiring seals were impressed with the 
governor's coat-of-arms, and in private matters 
with the armes of those interested. 

Heraldry, though applied to coat-armor, is in 
truth a term for the work of the herald, and is 
much more than blazoning and marshalling armes. 

The coat-of-arms is literally a dignified trade 
mark, in the genealogical sense, or badge of the 
name and family to which it pretends. 

It is useful for the identification of persons and 
property, and is more to be relied on in research 
than the family names, which, by reason of varia- 
tions in spelling in old records, etc., are difficult 
to follow, while the accuracy of a coat-of-armes 
can always be relied on. 

It shows connection, discent and important 
marriages — being a guide to historians, genealo- 
gist and pedigree compilers. 



121 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



It began seven hundred years ago as an aid to 
the identification of persons, and to-day exists 
exactly in the same sense. 

The use of the heraldic bearings is not indic- 
ative of rank or title. It is, and always has 
been, the distinction of a house, whether corn- 
.moners, gentles or nobles. In all countries is 
this true to-day, and in them, all men, if gentle- 
men as we understand the term, are entitled to 
this name distinction, for legal as well aj social 
purposes. 

Equally true is this of the helmet, crest, mantle 
or flourish and motto. 

Supporters, particularly in England, are the 
part of the coat-of-armes whole, which belongs 
to those ennobled as a notice to that effect. But 
in this country there is no reason why they 
should not be used when inherited. There is ab- 
solutely no class or distinction in heraldic bear- 
ings, all coat-armor is complete, and finished, and 
equal, one shield to another ; the armes of a king 
are no more, no less, and no better than those 
of the poorest commoner of the kingdom. 

Men have made a distinction as royal, noble 
and commoner, but it is a purely personal at- 
tribute having no connection or relation with the 
usage of coat-armor. 

Indeed, many English and Continental families 
are far older and of a purer blood than most of 
the ennobled and royal houses of Europe to-day. 

In fact, abroad as in America, the true nobility 
of a country is the old families who seek no 
tinsel distinctions, but are content to be the back- 
bone of the country. And these are the folk who 
bear coat-armor. 

In the English roll of armes to-day, there are 
some sixty-six thousand blazonings. Of these, 
less than three thousand are in the peerage and 
baronetage, the others are the gentry or people 
of England. 

In Europe the roll contains over one hundred 
thousand names, of which not over ten thousand 
are ennobled with titles. 
"Race and birth is what we are by the will of 

God; 
Rank and class is but the shell of artificial life." 



Extracts from a letter written by Mrs. Dorinda E. 
Hyatt (daughter of John Townsend, N. Y. 
State Senator, son of Israel), to Her cousin, 
Mrs. Andrew J. Kinch (daughter of Israel, son 
of Israel), dated September 22d, 1876. 
" . . . . You may have heard that we are 
spending the summer at Sea Cliff — two miles be- 
low Glen Cove on the Sound, a lovely place, and 
six miles from Oyster Bay. 

Well, Effie and I took a wagon and drove — by 
the "town path" (as the road is called on the 
map) through the most beautiful farming coun- 
try I ever saw — to Oyster Bay, a quaint old town, 
We stopped at the Hotel to make some inquiries 
and found that the Episcopal Church was built 
over the "old stone chapel" the first place of 
worship on Long Island built by some of our 
ancestors — so of course we expected to find them 
sleeping the last sleep in that sacred spot — but lo 



and behold not one was to be found 1 So we 
turned with heavy hearts from the old church 
ground, wondering if we really had any an- 
cestors, when we m.et an old gentleman, and I 
said meekly — -"Do you know sir, are there any 
Townsends buried in this place?" 

He laughed, and said there ought to be, as 
about every other house in the town was built 
or had been inhabited by a Townsend, "but I 
suppose you want to see the graves of the "Three 
Brothers?" 

I said yes rather dubiously, for I was not sure 
but he was laughing at me. Then he said "I sup- 
pose you have heard of the 'old mill,' well go 
back about a mile by the bay and you will come 
to a bridge, cross it, and you will come to an 
old stone house, they still call it the 'New House,' 
built in 1671 by Elizabeth wife of the first John 
for her son, then turn to the right and there is 
the mill." 

And sure enough, there was the mill, dilapi- 
dated — though still in use ; then he had said, "go 
up the rise west, and j'ou will come to the old 
homestead — and in a corner of the lawn you will 
find the graves." 

It's a fine old place now occupied by Chancellor 
McCoun who married one of the Townsends — 
Joseph Townsend's daughter. 

Imagine Effie's astonishment at finding the old 
Chancellor alive, whose portrait hangs in the 
Law Library and the City Hall in full judicial 
robes — he would not have been much more sur- 
prised to have found one of the "brothers" sitting 
there to receive him. 

He was the last Chancellor in New York, and 
is a real gentleman of the old school ; his son, a 
youth of about seventy, told us his father studied 
with Bogert, the great lawyer who defended Judith 
Townsend in her suit to recover her great grand- 
father's property, 18 acres in New York below the 
Collect Pond, (Canal Street now.) Aaron Burr 
was counsel for the state or people. She lost the 
case as she had no title — but no one had when 
they first settled there. He said that Bogert said 
she was the smartest woman he ever met, and 
mastered the case perfectly. 

Well — to return. As we entered the place a 
lady was getting in her carriage, I said "I hope 
we are not intruding, but I hear there are some 
old graves here, will you allow me to look at 
them ?" 

She replied "No one but Townsends are buried 
here." 

I said "They are the ones I want to see, they 
are my ancestors" — just then the lady called out 
"Father, here is a lady who says she is a Town- 
send," and she led out the old Chancellor, who 
is over ninety years old ; they received us as 
though we had been expected guests, and kept 
us talking Townsend, for almost an hour before 
we could come away. 

Miss McCoun — she is about sixty — told me she 
had received from England a book called "The 
Genealogy of the Families of Norfolk," Eng- 
land ; she said they — the Townsends — had inter- 
married with almost all the old families of Eng- 



122 



TOWNSEND— TOWNSHEND 



land, (they must be as prolific as their cousins 
this side of the water) that the 'three brothers' 
were sons of Sir Thomas or Roger Townsend (a 
direct ancestor of the Marquis Townshcnd) who 
had five sons— the eldest, the heir of course, the 
next, in the Army or Navy, I forget which— the 
three younger came to America in 1600 and 
something. John the oldest was a Barrister, who 
married Elizabeth Montgomery or Montgomerie 
as it was spelled in the old times — who was a 
daughter of one of the old Colonial Governors, 
and \yho turned Quaker, so he gave up the law." 
That "accounts for the Townsends being fined 
for "harboring Quakers." Oh, ye woemen! so 
to go back again — after we had received the Chan- 
cellor's hospitality— the young man who is a re- 
tired lawyer, took us to the graves, which are 
on a rise of ground in front of the house, or on 
one side, rather, (the lawn runs down to the 
river) They were almost covered by trees and 
underbrush or shrubbery, but — there they were — 
the "Three Brothers," we had to scrape the moss 
off one headstone to see the inscription, the 
stone was cut or hewn out of solid granite, so 
rough and strange — that one was Richard Town- 
send, the youngest— the inscription — "buried 10 
tn ye 1687" — we would not remove the time hon- 
ored covering from the others, it seemed like 
sacrilege; no one has been buried there for years. 

I stood and dreamed awhile, then stooped and 
gathered some leaves, (I will send you some) 
then we went to see the "great English Elms," 
which John ist sent home to England for— they 
are almost or quite as large around as the "big 
walnut tree," but oh, so tall and majestic, (they 
are not at all like the Elms of New Haven) 

They stand close by the old original site, 
though nothing remains but what might have 
been a celler; the Chancellor remembers when 
it fell down, it is on the lawn also— the present 
house or mansion stands on and is a part of the 
house John ist or his wife built for their son 
Henry of whom we are direct descendants. Then 
Mr. McCoun took us to see the rock on which 
George Fox preached, it stands on the lawn also 
in a grove of trees — the same grove that some 
Townsend was fined 20 lbs. for allowing the 
Quakers to hold forth in, so says the History of 
Long Island. I brought a piece of the rock home 

also , , . , • J 

After thanking the McCouns for their kind 
reception. I asked them if they knew anything 
of the Weeks family of Oyster Bay? 

Oh, said Miss McCoun, I suppose you are a 
descendant of that Phebe Weeks who was a 
great belle, and who married her cousin a Town- 
send, that I have heard my mother speak of. 
They moved across the Sound, over in the "wilder- 
ness," and she was not very happy." 

I said I was from Westchester Co. 

Yes, I can direct you to the house where she 
■was born and married from— it is still in the 
Weeks family. We must drive she said, about 
two miles to the east end of the town, close by 
where now is the steamboat landing. 

I said we have a friend Mr. Theodore Roose- 



velt who has one of the Weeks places for the 
summer." 

That is the very one she said, you'll know it by 
the high Greek or Corinthian columns in front 
(but I doubt if our grandmother ever saw those 
imposing looking columns as they have quite a 
modern effect) the grounds are very fine and 
command a fine view of the Bay. 

There are lots of Townsends living round 
there, also. They say — "there is not a family in 
Oyster Bay, good or bad, that is not in some way- 
connected with the Townsends." 



Copy of a letter from Caroline Wilson (daughter 
of John Townsend, N. Y. State Senator, and 
sister of Mrs. Dorinda Hyatt) to Rev, Dr. 
Israel Lcandcr Townsend, then residing in 
Washington, D. C. 

White Plains Aug. 26th, 1896 

My DEAR COUSIN 

Since I received your last letter, you wiTl ob- 
serve by the date that I have moved to White 
Plains to be near as you will readily imagine, my 
dear Eloise, and you will be interested to hear 
I have strong hopes of having her with me on 
the first of October. 

During my nomadic wanderings, this treasure I 
send you has been packed away, and having just 
excavated it, and if you have not already a copy, 
instantly thought how you would value it. 

Our great grandmother was a remarkable 
woman, of high intellect and imbued with great 
piety. My father has told me how on her death 
bed, the house and grounds were filled with the 
neighbors and friends listening to her exhorta- 
tions, and you will see how she loved her son, 
our grandfather. 

You know our grandfather was born at No. I 
State Street opposite the Bowling Green, where 
they lived in the winter, and in the summer, at 
Oyster Bay. He was extravagant, I should say 
— kept his yellow panelled coach and never wore 
his black silk stockings after they were washed; 
was no business man (his descendants have in- 
herited that) got rid of all valuable property in 
New Jersey and passed his old age in Oyster Bay. 

Now if you have already a copy, there is no 
harm done— cousin Elizabeth I think had the 
original letter given her by our grandfather. 

My mother and I took tea in the grand old 
house in State Street. Mrs. Isiah Townsend's 
daughter of Albany introduced me to Mrs. Law- 
rence Mickle to whom the house had descended 
through her mother Mary Townsend, a cousin of 
your father and mine. It is now a warehouse, 
a fortune in itself. 

I am very fond of Genealogy, and should keep 
on to a tiresome length I fear had not my paper 
given out. 

With much love 

Your cousin 

Caroline. 

I intended describing the State Street mansion. 
We took tea in the immense hall with fire 



123 



TOWNSEND — TOWNSHEND 



places; a circular grand stair case up from the 
center, winding— a gallery running round at the 
top, on which the chambers opened. 

The tea service was massive and had been 
brought from England. How everything passed 
from our branch, simply because grandfather 
would not remain in Oyster Bay— but as I under- 
stand it— it was grandmother,— the Weeks tem- 
per!" 

Note.— The "treasure" referred to in the fore- 
going letter was the copy of a letter from Sarah 
Townsend to her son at North Castle. Her 
maiden name was Wright, and her mother's was 
Rhodes, daughter of Rhodes, youngest son of the 
Duke of Rhodes, who was banished from Eng- 
land for drinking a health to the Duke of Mon- 
mouth, pretender to the British throne. 

The heading of the letter— 

"Written from Oyster Bay, March ye lo Day, 
1769." 



Copy of a letter addressed to Rev. Dr. Israel 
Leander Townsend, by Andrew, son of Daniel 
Townsend, whose great-grandfather, he says, 
was Sheriff for Westchester Co., and drove 
about in his coach, bearing the Townsend coat- 
of-arms on its panels. 
Mr. Townsend still resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Brooklyn E. D., June 14th, 1884. 
Rev. Dr. Townsend 
Dear Sir, 
I wish to gain some information about the 
Townsend coat of arms — this part of the family 
having been trying to find some trace of it. 

There were three brothers who came from Eng- 
land in 1640, and the oldest brother brought a 
coat of arms made from his father's in England. 
Their father was Lord Townsend living on the 
Manchester Highway — this coat of arms was 
handed down from one generation to another, 
until my father came in possession of it. 

We had it in 1849 but since then we can find 
no trace of it, but we have a history of the 
"Three Brothers" and their descendants, which 
has a coat of arms on the title page of the book. 
Hearing that you have a coat of arms, would 
you please give me a description of it, to see if 
it is the same as ours. 

Remaining yours truly 

Andrew Townsend 
407 North Second Street, Brooklyn E. D. 



Extract from a letter of Captain Charles Hervey 
Townshend, of New Haven, to Hon. John D. 
Townsend, of New York, upon the occasion of 
forwarding to the latter views of Raynham 
Hall, which Captain Townshend had procured 
of Marquis Townshend, while in England. 

"New Haven 3d. October 1874 
Dear Sir 

I have just sent off sets of "Raynham" views. 



. . . My wife has made me a present of a fine 
boy, weight 9 pounds, and we have named him 
after his maternal grandfather, Henry Hotchkiss, 
his surname Townshend out of a compliment to 
our noble cousins who have often requested me to 
add the h to my name. 

I have just received most interesting letters 
from Lady Townshend and her daughter Lady 
Audrey Howard the wife of the son of the Earl 
of Suffolk. 

Lady Audrey will probably be Countess of Suf- 
folk and if her father in law's cousin should not 
leave an heir, she will be Dutchess of Norfolk. 
. . . . She writes — "You will observe I have 
spelled your name from habit with an h which I 
dare say you will excuse me for, but I hope some 
day you will do the same." 

The Dowager Marchioness writes, she "con- 
siders my effort to print a memorial of our fam- 
ily, most praiseworthy, and will send photographs 
of all of the family portraits she can." They 
seem much pleased with their American cousins. 

My wife joins with kindest regards to all your 
family. 

Yours in haste 
Charles H. Townsend. 



Extract from a letter of Mrs. Charles Hervey 
Townshend, of 234 Church Street, New Haven, 
to Margaret Townsend Tagliapietra. 

"New Haven Oct. 21st, 1907. 
My dear Mdme. Tagliapietra : 

I regret that I must begin my letter with apolo- 
gies for not having answered your letter before. 

I should only be too glad to aid you in the 
Townsend and Townshend family. I have never 
seen any interior views of Raynham Hall, and I 
doubt if there are any, in this country, at least. 

My husband and myself were entertained there 
in 1873 by the Dowager Marchioness and Lady 
Audrey Townshend, now the wife of Sir Redvers 
Buller. 

I remember the large State Hall containing the 
valuable family portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

The bed room and bed in which Queen Anne 
slept while visiting at the Hall. The magnificent 
tapestries with the coats of arms. I particularly 
remember the old carved oaken chest which Queen 
Anne left behind her; I think that was the cus- 
tom in those days. Within a few years. I have 
read in some history, of her visit to Raynham 
Hall 

All I know about the present Marquis since 
his visit to us in 1902, is what I read in the papers 
at the time of his marriage. I knew him then, 
quite well ; he was well educated and bright in 
many ways, his letters were always well written 
and well expressed ;....! think his mother 
is still living or I should have heard of her 
death 

I am quite well and living quietly with my son 
Henry, who is a lawyer. My son Raynham is 

124', 



T O W N S E N D — T O W N S H E N D 



now first house surgeon in Roosevelt Hospital, 
Isl. Y. He completes his duties there in January, 
when I hope to have hnn back in New Haven to 

practice his profession 

1 make rare visits to New York, but some time 
1 hope to see you and your mother again. It 
would give me great pleasure to see you in New 
Haven. With kindest regards, 1 remain very 
sincerely, M.•^RY H. Townsuend. 



Copy of note from John James Dudley Stuart 
Tovvnshend, Bart, and 6th Marquis and Vis- 
count Townshend of Raynham, County Norfolk, 
and of Tamworth Castle, Warwickshire, Eng- 
land, to Mrs. John D. Townsend and her 
daughters, Mdme. Townsend Tagliapietra, of 
New York City. 

"Holland House, 

"New York City, May 5th, 1902 _ 

"The Marquis Townshend presents his compli- 
ments to Mrs. John D. Townsend and Mame. 
Tagliapietra and thanks them very much for the 
kind invitation just received, and deeply regrets 
having missed the invitation during his stay in 
Chicago. 

"It will give him much pleasure if he may come 
on Wednesday the 7th to luncheon at 1.30 if that 
day and hour will be equally agreeable to Mrs. 
John D. Townsend and Mdme. Tagliapietra. 

"Lord Townshend is engaged during the rest 
of his time until Thursday when he goes to visit 
Captain and Mrs. Townshend at New Haven 
for a few days previous to his return to England." 



From the N. Y. Herald, Thursday, May 8th, 1902. 
"Mrs. John D. Townsend and her daughter, 
Mdme. Tagliapietra, entertained the Marquis 
Townshend at luncheon yesterday at their resi- 
dence, No. 343 West 34th Street. Mr. Clarence 
L. Collins, Mr. M. Roosevelt Schuyler, his host, 
Signor Tagliapietra and Mr. Arthur Burr were 
among the gentlemen to meet the Marquis Town- 
shend, who is obliged to shorten his visit to 
America in the order to be in England in time 
for the Coronation." 



A note to Mrs. John D. Towmsend and Mdme. 
Tagliapietra, from Lady .Audrey Buller, in ac- 
knowledgment of sympathy extended on the 
death of her husband. 

"DowNEs Crediton, Devoshire, June 5, IQ08 
"Lady Audrey Buller is greatly touched by the 
expression of sympathy from Mrs. John D. Town- 
send and Mdme. Tagliapietra, and by their 'high 
appreciation of Sir Redvers." 



Extracts from ^L\LCOLM Townsend Book. 
Townsend — Townshend. 

"The Scallop or Escallop shell is an old and 
popular charge of honorable bearing, having been 
assumed by the Pilgrims on their return from 
the Holy Land; it was adopted as tlicir badge 
in expeditions to and from the holy places, the 
shells being originally used as articles to dip 
water from streams, subsequently woni on their 
hats and hoods in worked or sketched reliefs, 
soon becoming a distinguishing mark. Pope 
Alexander the Fourth forbade the use of them to 
all except the pilgrims who were truly noble. 
The Escallop is the emblem of St. James of 
Compostella, which led to its being the sign ol 
a pilgrim. 

(Give me my scallop shell of quiet. 
My staff of faith to walk upon)'' 

Sir Walter Raleigh. 
From Burke's Excyclopedia of Heraldry. 

"Townshend, (Raynham, Marquess Town- 
shend). Az. a chev. erm. betw. three escallops 
ar. 

Cn-st. A stag ppr. Supporters, Dexter a stag 
sa., Sinister a greyhound ar. 

Motto. Haec generi incrementa fides. 
****** 

Reference to Raynham Hall, Norfolk, 
England. 

The Hall is a stately edifice about one hundred 
feet square, built of red brick, by Sir Roger 
Townsend, Bart., in 1630, after plans of England's 
Court architect, Inigo Jones. 

The "old Mansion" of the Townsends, built of 
Roman brick and surrounded by a moat, is still 
to be seen as a picturesque ruin in the Park near 
Raynham Lake. 

****** 

Raincham or Reineham, as it is wrote in the 
book of Domesday, takes its name from being 
seated near a running stream of water or river. 
Bloomefield's Norfolk. 

Arms. 

Azure ; A chevron ermine, between three es- 
callops argent. (On a blue shield, a chevron er- 
mine between three silver escallops.) 

In Burke's description of the arms, he includes 
the Crest. 

Crest. 

A Stag, passant; proper. 

Motto. 

Haec Generi Incrementa Fides. (Faith gave 
these honors tD our race; or Ennobled for our 
fidelity.) 



125 



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